Federal grant will help residents make improvements to home exteriors

WASHINGTON - After receiving a federal grant to assist low-income homeowners with making exterior improvements to their homes, the Washington City Council approved eight different items to move forward with the project.

The city applied for and received federal funds from the Community Development Block Grant from the state of Iowa for up to $234,994. The city received everything they asked for to rehabilitate the homes.

The funds will be used to fund six homeowners in Washington for exterior home rehabilitation. The recipients must meet certain low- and moderate-income guidelines, and each home is eligible for up to $24,999.

Before receiving the funding, the city had homeowners apply to receive the funding with a deadline of June 24.

The city is using part of the federal funds to pay East Central Iowa Council of Governments to administer the block grant.

The eight pieces of new business the city council approved to move on with the project were:

' Approval of the grant contract with Iowa Economic Development Authority.

' Approval of a contract with East Central Iowa Council of Governments to administer the block grant.

' Approval of a resolution adopting a code of conduct, which is required by the block grant.

' Approval of a resolution adopting a procurement policy, which is required by the block grant.

' Approval of an Equal Opportunity Policy statement.

' Approval of a mayor's proclamation regarding a policy on the prohibition of the use of excessive force.

' Approval of an fair housing policy.

' Approval of residential anti-displacement statement.

Many of these items have been approved by the City Council in the past, such as the prohibition of use of excessive force, because they are required to receive the grant.

City Administrator Brent Hinson said the prohibition of excessive force proclamation has been approved three times before in the last nine years. It happens to be more pertinent today, he said.

This particular policy has been in place as a requirement to receive federal funds has been in place since 1990, said Tracey Achenbach, housing and community development director with East Iowa Council of Governments.