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Winnebago County health staff secure $4.4 million HUD lead‑abatement grant; committee approves budget amendment and coordinator position
Summary
The Winnebago County Board of Health committee voted to approve a budget amendment tied to a new $4.4 million HUD lead hazard reduction grant that will expand local abatement work and fund a grant‑dependent program coordinator; staff said hiring and spending are contingent on personnel & finance and county board approval.
Winnebago County health department staff told the Board of Health committee they have been notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that the county will receive a $4.4 million lead hazard reduction award over four years, and the committee approved a budget amendment to begin the administrative steps needed to hire a grant‑funded coordinator and prepare for work.
Doug, the department director, told the committee that the award is roughly $1,000,000 per year for lead abatement work plus a $400,000 Healthy Homes add‑on that can cover indoor air quality and safety measures such as smoke and carbon‑monoxide detectors and ventilation improvements. "We were recently notified by HUD that we have been successful applicants of a HUD lead abatement grant," Doug said, describing a four‑year award that would substantially expand current operations.
Why it matters: staff said the HUD funding will allow the department to roughly double its abatement output from about 25 homes a year to closer to 50, extending the reach of state LCHIP funds by braiding federal and state resources. The department emphasized that HUD requirements are stricter than some state funding and that some homes will be prioritized by risk (highest priority: homes with a lead‑poisoned child).
How the program will work: staff described the typical abatement workflow — certified contractors use wet methods under containment and families are relocated while work occurs, usually for 7–10 days, with lodging costs covered by the program. Staff said contractor/subcontractor work accounts for the lion’s share of the budget, followed by lodging and related relocation costs for occupants and some staff training and travel.
Contingent hiring and budget process: the committee approved a budget amendment on a voice vote to move the matter forward. Doug said formal authority to expend funds or hire staff requires completion of federal paperwork and approvals through the county personnel & finance committee and then full county board. To implement the work the department will add a full‑time HUD lead abatement program coordinator to the table of organization; that position is grant‑funded and would end if the grant did not continue.
Board concern and clarification: members asked whether the county will be forced to displace homeowners and how much homeowners will contribute. Staff emphasized the program is voluntary for most participants and owner occupants typically face little or no out‑of‑pocket cost; the department generally requests a 10% match when owners can pay, but many occupants will have the work fully covered.
Next steps: the approved amendment moves to personnel & finance next month and to the county board for final approval; spending cannot begin until those approvals and HUD paperwork are complete. Staff said they will begin recruitment for the program coordinator once approvals are complete and will advertise to expand contractor capacity and recruit eligible properties.
Ending: the committee closed the item after the voice vote and staff said they will inform the county board and prepare the recruitment materials and paperwork needed to start abatement work once the grant becomes active.
