Lyon County commissioners soon may be one step closer to participating in a program though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that focuses on neighborhood stabilization.
Sam Seeley, Lyon County flood plain manager and zoning director, told commissioners earlier this month that HUD’s new Neighborhood Stabilization Program could help out the county. According to HUD’s Web site, the program “will provide emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities.”
Seeley said the Kansas Department of Commerce, Rural Development Division in partnership with the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation, Home Division, will implement the program on a state level.
“Lyon County is the grantee of the grant and will be working on an administrative agreement with the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission,” Seeley said. “This will cover local implementation.”
The county would receive funds at no cost to the county and no county dollars would be needed to match those funds. The county has to take several steps to be eligible for the funds, which are a part of Housing and Economic Recovery Act passed July 2008. There are several properties in all of Lyon County, including cities in Lyon County that are being considered, Seeley said.
“The county would own them at first,” Seeley said. “Then the county is leaning toward donating them to an organization that would maintain them as low income housing.” In other matters:
• Vicky Lyon, victim-witness coordinator for Lyon County, asked commissioners to proclaim April 26 as National Crime Victims Week in Lyon County. This year’s theme is “25 Year of Re-building Lives. Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act.” A ceremony will be held on April 30 with dinner at 6 p.m. and a program and candlelighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 1508 W. 12th Ave. RSVPs are requested and can be made at 341-3319, 341-3407 or 341-3263.
• Robert Sullivan, Community Corrections, discussed replacing old uniform shirts and increasing the number from two per staff member to four and will discuss contracting with Becky Morton to develop and access program.
• Jim Brull reviewed the contract for engineering services with BG Consultants for replacing a bridge on Road 310 west of Road H and will discuss purchasing approximately 750 feet of used 18 inch steel casing at $22 per foot and 60 feet of 16 inch casing at $14.50 per foot for an estimated total of $17,590 from Justin Sage in Madison.
• Richard Old, Lyon County undersheriff, discussed an expenditure of $2,000 from fund 84 for tuition, training and travel expenses for a detective to attend CSI training.