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SBA outreach and local updates: council hears disaster loan information, resident urges turnout and restraint on pay increases
Summary
An SBA disaster recovery official told the council about low-interest loans for flood survivors and upcoming deadlines; a resident urged turnout and asked council to oppose pay increases for elected officials. The mayor highlighted restoration work at the Sullivan Building and recent community events.
During citizen-comment and official report periods the council heard an outreach presentation from the U.S. Small Business Administration and received resident remarks about the election and local taxes.
DJ Jekala, representing the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resiliency, asked the council to share information about SBA low-interest disaster loans available to homeowners, renters, faith-based organizations, nonprofits and businesses after the July flooding. He said the physical-damage loan application deadline is Nov. 12 and that economic injury disaster loans for businesses are available through June 2026. "Word-of-mouth is key because there are a lot of individuals who aren't even aware that we offer this service," he said during his three-minute comment.
Resident Dana Crawford urged voter turnout for the election and said she voted in favor of a local tax increase she described as "crucial funding." She also asked council members to oppose further pay increases for elected officials during anticipated budget constraints.
In city updates, the mayor described restoration and reuse plans for the Sullivan Building — a historic theater completed in 1915 and listed on the National Register — and thanked community partners for their work on downtown events, including a recent trick-or-treat and Rolling Thunder. The mayor said the Sullivan Building's main floor will host art galleries and the top floor will house the convention bureau office.
The council did not take votes on the items raised in public comment; the SBA representative said he would follow up by email for council staff with additional questions.
