Committee supports exploring countywide CDBG mobile‑home replacement program with outside administrator

County staff presented a proposal to apply for a CDBG-funded mobile‑home replacement program and asked the committee whether the county should pursue a countywide application that a partner would administer.

"Only thing if you wanna bring up the, mobile home replacement program," said a staff member introducing the idea. Staff said the funding round typically opens in July with an August due date and that the program commonly provides about "$100,000 per" unit as a funding cap. Staff recommended contracting with a partner (Arbor Development or Millennium) to administer outreach and application processing because the county lacks bandwidth for the program’s administrative load.

Committee members questioned eligibility and program mechanics: staff said assistance is income‑based, applicants must own the property and, in some program versions, recipients must agree to live in the unit for a set period. One committee member asked bluntly, "So you're just giving people a brand new free home?" and was told recipients typically must occupy the property for five years or repay assistance if they leave early; staff also said administrative costs are generally paid from the grant.

Members expressed mixed views about contractor availability and tax consequences of replacing units with newer models; some urged no county administrative cost beyond staff time and recommended using Arbor Development’s outreach capacity. Staff asked for a sense of the committee and, with members indicating support, said they would work with partners to prepare an application and return for formal acceptance when the funding round opens.

Provenance: Staff introduced the program and led detailed discussion across several agenda segments; committee gave staff direction to proceed with application preparations but took no formal vote to accept grant funds at this meeting.