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Council tables Lawton Housing Authority accounting question and approves CAPER submission to HUD
Summary
Council accepted the CAPER for federal fiscal year 2024 and authorized the mayor to sign for HUD submission, while separately tabling a staff report that found the Lawton Housing Authority claims $86,000 for early 2024 with no documented agreement; council directed legal review and suspended further payments pending counsel advice.
The council on Nov. 11 received the HUD-required Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for federal fiscal year 2024 and authorized the mayor to sign documents for submission to HUD.
Housing & Community Development staff reported HUD awards for the covered program year totaled $1,100,000: CDBG $742,497 and HOME $374,800, with program examples including emergency repairs (average cost about $5,314), exterior home improvements (average ~$14,400), whole-home repairs (average ~$32,900), and a forgivable loan program with a maximum rehab assistance of $40,000 and 10-year affordability periods. Staff said tenant-based rental assistance served a small number of clients and that public service organizations assisted over 9,000 clients through combined efforts.
Separately, staff reported an accounting issue: the Lawton Housing Authority has requested $86,000 for the Jan–Jun 2024 timeframe despite staff finding no executed agreement covering that period. Housing staff said payments totaling $174,222 had been issued to the housing authority at times when a formal agreement could not be located. Legal staff (Tim Wilson) was reported out sick; council agreed to table the matter, to suspend further payments until legal review, and to request Tim Wilson's guidance before any action on the claim. Council then convened and returned from executive session; no immediate action beyond tabling and legal review was reported.
Council voted to approve the CAPER for submission to HUD and to authorize the mayor to sign, and it separately voted to table the housing authority accounting question pending legal advice.
