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Cochran council approves 2025 CDBG application over council member's objection
Summary
The Cochran City Council voted 3–1 on March 11 to submit a 2025 Community Development Block Grant application after debate about whether CDBG funds should prioritize housing rehabilitation or city infrastructure; Council Member Carla Coley voted against the resolution.
The Cochran City Council voted 3–1 on March 11 to approve a resolution to submit a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application, with Council Member Carla Coley dissenting.
Public Works Director Willie Farrow described the city's method for selecting CDBG participants, saying staff begin in a designated area and proceed systematically without skipping houses. Farrow said the household identified as the 12th eligible participant is Laverne Bullock at 183 North 8th Street, and that the person meets the program's qualification requirements.
Council Member Carla Coley said she is concerned about the cumulative spending on housing rehabilitation through CHIP and CDBG grants since 2019, which she said has approached $4 million, and asked that the next CDBG application prioritize city infrastructure and buildings rather than continued housing rehabilitation. Coley also suggested using regional commissions for grant administration instead of outside administrators to increase local contracting opportunities.
Council Member Shane Savant moved to approve the resolution; Council Member Lonnie Tedders seconded. Council Members Gary Ates, Savant and Tedders voted in favor; Coley voted against the motion. The motion carried 3'1.
Why it matters: CDBG funding supports housing rehabilitation and related community development activities; council direction on application priorities can influence whether limited federal dollars are used for home repairs or for infrastructure projects such as sidewalks, sewer lines or public buildings. The council did not specify dollar amounts for the proposed 2025 program in the public record at this meeting.
Next steps: Staff will submit the application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and proceed with the participant selection process described by Public Works staff.
