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COG board raises questions about $16.1M USDA-backed Lake Isabella senior housing posting; board acknowledges clearinghouse notice
Summary
Board members removed a local clearinghouse item from consent to ask why a USDA loan/rehabilitation application for a Lake Isabella senior apartment complex lacked detail. The clearinghouse posting was acknowledged by the COG board; staff said the agency's role is to post notices and that comments should be directed to USDA or the applicant.
Board members pulled a local clearinghouse notice from the consent agenda to question incomplete application details for a proposed USDA‑backed acquisition and rehabilitation of a senior apartment facility in Lake Isabella.
Staff explained the COG acts as a designated local clearinghouse whose role is limited to posting state notices and that the state clearinghouse and USDA would be the proper recipients for comments. The executive director told the board he reviewed the application materials and that the USDA filing appeared to propose federal funds for purchase and rehabilitation of an existing senior apartment property.
Board members said the application lacked sufficient supporting attachments and requested more information. One board member recited figures from the application packet: a total project value listed at approximately $16,100,000, an applicant contribution of $329,000, program income of $1,100,000, and other funding of $5,666,000. The member said those numbers raised questions about whether a for‑profit purchaser was receiving a large public subsidy without clearer documentation of uses and scope.
Staff recommended that the board is not approving the loan or project but is acknowledging receipt of the clearinghouse notice. The board moved, seconded and approved a motion to receive and acknowledge the posting; staff said they would investigate whether a public link or contact information could be provided to the board and the public and reiterated that comments on the federal loan should be directed to USDA.
No formal approval of funding or transfer of property occurred at the meeting.
