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Committee approves $62,967.93 in draw vouchers; ECDA reports housing-program activity and near-exhaustion of private security incentives
Summary
The committee approved June draw vouchers totaling $62,967.93 and heard an ECDA report: 31 housing rehab projects underway, Healthy Homes completions and grant closeout deadlines in August, CDBG radon work, and private security incentive funds nearly depleted with under $1,000 remaining after recent applications.
The Kankakee City Community Development Committee on July 6 approved draw vouchers for June totaling $62,967.93 and received a departmental report from ECDA staff addressing housing-rehabilitation programs, grant closeouts and several community programs.
Chair called for the vouchers motion and Alderman Osanga moved approval; Alderman Swanson seconded. The motion passed. The chair noted one alderman stated an abstention on specific voucher item numbers referencing First Trust Bank to avoid a potential conflict of interest; staff confirmed the vouchers were accepted as presented.
ECDA staff member Barbie Watson detailed ongoing program activity. “So getting into construction programs, we have 31 construction housing rehab programs going on,” Watson said. She reported one Healthy Homes project completed in June and six more in progress that must be finished by August so the grant can be closed out on schedule. Watson described intake delays on mirror and rental-rehab programs caused by additional paperwork and homeowner participation requirements.
Watson described radon work in the SRP/CDBG portfolio and said that new radon testing and contractor onboarding has slowed progress: “This is where a lot of our radon is at and radon takes time,” she said. On demolition funded via CDBG, Watson said the program will pursue demo orders through adjudication and that funding exists to support four more properties.
On the private security incentive program, Watson said staff processed additional applications and expected the program balance to fall to “just about under $1,000” after the most recent reviews. She explained the program’s funding history: “It started with sponsorship of local businesses… then we used ARPA money and, now we’re using city funds,” and said council budget decisions determine future allocations.
Watson also announced a pre-construction meeting for a shelter grant scheduled Thursday at 11 a.m., after which the general contractor and subcontractors will receive notices to proceed. She provided a land-bank portfolio for Kankakee properties and said 12 properties are in acquisition using abandonment procedures.
What’s next: Staff said they will bring amended language back to the committee to align ARPA-funded housing programs with current HUD requirements (including lead and environmental testing costs), and will follow up on the private security program funding and any budget allocations the council determines for ongoing operation.
