Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Send Ica Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gage County board approves ICA allowing SEND to own property, expand housing tools
Summary
The Gage County Board of Supervisors voted 7-0 Dec. 10 to approve an interlocal cooperation agreement that will allow the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SEND) to form a 501(c)(3) and hold property, a change SEND officials say will streamline access to foundation grants and speed local housing projects.
The Gage County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 10 approved an interlocal cooperation agreement (ICA) enabling the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SEND) to own property and pursue a 501(c)(3) designation, a step SEND officials said will broaden local funding options.
Tom Bliss, executive director of SEND, told the board the change would allow the district to apply for certain foundation grants and reduce back-and-forth paperwork with affiliate nonprofits. "We're trying to be a little bit more innovative, entrepreneurial with the stuff that we do," Bliss said, explaining the ICA would let SEND serve as the pass-through or property holder for some projects.
Why it matters: SEND staff said state and federal funding is becoming more competitive and that having authority to hold property would let the district move faster on housing and community development projects. Bliss noted SEND’s recent grant success: the district applied for 18 grants and received 17 awards this year and captured roughly half of the state's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation in recent rounds.
Board discussion focused on legal risk and oversight. County legal counsel said he saw "no legal questions" that would prohibit the change. Supervisors acknowledged a potential for loss when owning property but said they planned to remain conservative about any acquisitions. Supervisor Lytle moved to approve the ICA; Supervisor Jurgens seconded. The board voted 7 in favor.
SEND officials outlined concrete projects that could use the added flexibility. The district said it is building two three-bedroom duplexes in Beatrice — four units totaling 12 bedrooms — with rents capped; a speaker noted a three-bedroom unit would be priced at about $1,400 per month. Bliss also cited a $1,000,000 pandemic housing award sent to the county and emphasized that much of the spending on SEND projects goes to local lumber yards and subcontractors.
The board also heard about a new pilot called the "home lift" program. Brett Pencroft, a housing inspector with SEND, described an effort to relocate underused or vacant houses onto donated or low-cost lots, perform essential rehabs and sell the units affordably to first-time buyers. Pencroft said the program aims to keep homes "below $2.25" (as stated in his presentation), and discussed common costs — moving a house, foundation work and rehabs — that affect feasibility.
Next steps: The ICA will be executed following the board vote; SEND and county staff said they will continue to coordinate on specific project approvals and any property purchases. Bliss and SEND staff invited board members to follow up with SEND staff on loan, grant-administration and housing questions.
