Vernon County grant update: monitoring concerns, DNR extension and De Soto mobile-home placements

At the April 20 meeting Diane McGinnis reported on multiple grant programs and recovery efforts tied to recent flooding.

McGinnis said Vernon County was monitored March 14, 2017 and received a monitoring letter that cited two concerns: compliance with labor standards and the need for a second public meeting on the grant. The county plans to schedule the second public meeting before the next Finance Committee meeting. She said a contract extension for a DNR grant related to Tally Dam has been routed at the state level and now runs through Dec. 31, 2018.

On buyouts tied to Bloomingdale, McGinnis said only one additional CDBG application was received and that applicant was over income; the county is exploring other options but may return the housing portion of that grant to the state if no eligible projects emerge. For CDBG-EAP flood recovery, McGinnis said the county has not received many new applications and will issue a May press release and public meeting schedule to raise awareness.

McGinnis provided an update on the De Soto mobile home park: three mobile homes are expected to arrive soon, frost piers were poured for the first three, and five homes have been ordered with two more pending. She reported $251,312.26 in hard costs expended to date (excluding salaries, postage and other soft costs). McGinnis also noted two requests for public-facility assistance (De Soto sewer repairs and a bridge project on JJ) and interest in the revolving loan fund from four prospective applicants. The tourism and economic-development committee is working to contract a consultant for an economic development plan; staff is also reviewing the Packer Foundation for possible grant opportunities focused on elderly services, homelessness, human services and hunger.

McGinnis' report did not contain a formal committee action; items are expected to return for further processing or public meetings as needed.