Housing authority reports project milestones, HUD praise and moves to closed session on personnel

The Champagne Housing Authority board on March 5 received updates on construction, programs and finance and was told the agency recently drew national attention after a visit by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials.

Executive staff reported a notice to proceed has been issued for Columbia Place, with demolition and site preparation under way and an expected eight‑month construction timeline. James Lee, who oversees development and maintenance, said Steer Place is in its third phase of construction with earlier phases nearly leased and that 209 North Central is complete and nearly fully leased.

Staff also reported program metrics: in February staff supported 11 clients, paid roughly $21,272 in landlord incentives that month and reported year‑to‑date landlord incentive spending of about $50,000. The authority currently has 181 families enrolled in its self‑sufficiency program.

Finance update: Miguel said the authority recently migrated to new financial software and is still reconciling records. He reported the authority changed health‑insurance carriers to Blue Cross Blue Shield after the previous carrier went out of business; the switch has raised employer costs by about $60,000 per month, he said. Miguel also flagged higher utility and insurance costs and identified substantial payments to a utilities vendor listed in the transcript as “Amaran” (a later remark referred to the vendor as “Amron”); two‑month utility payments to that vendor were reported at about $30,000 in the transcript.

HUD visit and recognition: staff said U.S. HUD Secretary Scott Turner visited the agency recently to announce an expansion of certain policy elements (term limits and work‑requirement guidance) and praised the authority’s supportive‑services model. Staff reported HUD asked the authority to participate in national discussions and to serve as an example as the agency and the Department refine guidance.

Board action: after the staff reports the board voted by roll call to approve the January detailed checklist, cash disbursements and the January 2026 budget‑to‑actual report. Later the board moved, seconded and voted to go into closed session to discuss "continued hiring, firing, or continued employment of a specific employee." The board recessed for five minutes before the closed session.

What to watch: the authority is pursuing construction milestones and external grant funding (staff said they had reapplied for a $2 million Department of Commerce grant). Finance reconciliation from the software migration and insurer/provider cost increases are near‑term items staff said they are addressing.