Minutes-7 /11/1990 (2)

The Tiffin city council met in regular session on Wednesday, July 11, 1990 at the fire station. Mayor Potter called meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Brown, Bartels, Stoner, Morgan and Slavmaker. Also present were Mike Hart, Stephen Greenleaf, Al and Nancy Barnes, Warren Repp, Alan Kern, Mike Singer and a reporter from the Press Citizen. During community forum Al Barnes reported that a resident of the Clear Creek Mobile Home Court had been denied financial assistance from FEMA because Tiffin did not include the trailer court in its application for the flood plain insurance program. He also stated that FEMA said no one in the court would get any aid. He also stated that the family was told to reapply for funds. Morgan stated that she had seen a check from FEMA for one of the trailer court residents. Attorney stated they he had confirmation from FEMA that application was received and that the council has done everything it was asked to do. Clerk reported that application was stamped by FEMA on June 29. Nancy Barnes reported that she called FEMA to confirm the report and that FEMA told her that the city council had specifically excluded the trailer court from the flood application. Mayor Potter stated that the council held two special meetings and followed all procedures exactly as required by FEMA, adopted resolution and ordinance and FAXED it to Kansas City. Singer reported that there might be CDBG funds available for the dike project in the trailer court. ECICOG could conduct an income survey in the court. Since it is not a city-wide survey, it might qualify for the 51% LMI standard. Income thresholds are higher now than the last time an income survey was done in Tiffin. There is a sense of urgency about the project. The city would need to fund one-third of the project. This does not mean that the city has to provide all of these funds. Money could come from other sources. Persons benefitting would need to cooperate with the survey process. Cost for ECICOG services would be $300.00 initially. Total cost would be $550.00 to $600.00. City could include volunteer work, but not too much of the funding can come from force account labor. Last year 66 cities got funding out of 130 applications. Tiffin has not has previous funding from CDBG. Everything considered, it should have better than normal odds for receiving grant. CDBG can be combined with other funding sources such as FEMA or FMHA. Can't match federal funds to federal funds. A comprehensive economic development plan would be beneficial. Award notification will be in February or March. Council will ask Ray Scheetz if he would participate in CDBG application for funds as it would be beneficial to him. The first step is to identify project and all areas benefitting from project. Also, need to circulate a petition showing that the project has supports from whole community. Council indicated favorable reaction to proposed CDBG application for flood control. Item will be placed on next month's agenda. Council consensus not to pursue REAP application at this time. Warren Repp, representative from Iowa Electric Light and Power Company, addressed council. They have to eliminate mercury vapor lighting and replace them with high pressure sodium. If any street lights need to be added, he'd like to know before this project is done. Also, funding for tree planting programs will soon be available.