The Fallon City Council met Wednesday in a special meeting for the second hearing of the Community Development Block Grant application process to consider possible projects. CDBG projects must either benefit low and moderate income (LMI) persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight or meet an economic development need of a particular urgency.
Derek Zimney, City Engineer, presented for consideration the paving and installation of curbs and gutters on the west section of Court Street. “There is a lack of sidewalk and basically a lack of roadway in that spot. That road just needs it so badly.”
Zimney presented a map of the census tracks in the City of Fallon showing that nearly all the tracks are over the “at least 51% LMI” requirement for the program. In fact, there are three census tracks that are over 70% LMI.
For the purposes of the CDBG program, administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, low income is defined as households whose income does not exceed 80% of the median income for the area. The median income for the City of Fallon is $28,310 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Mayor Ken Tedford said the challenge on Court Street will be drainage, similar to the Front Street project. “This will be another engineering challenge. The problem has always been where are we going to take this water, that was the challenge forever on Front Street, the challenge of drainage.” In spite of the drainage issue, he thinks this would be a good project. “I hope they fund it.”
Councilman James Richardson agreed the street definitely needs repair.
Councilwoman Frost asked about the zoning on the parcel at Court Street and South Nevada. The vacant parcel is currently zoned for commercial use and there was discussion about the property as a potential business site if these road improvements were made.
All potential CDBG projects will be presented to the City Council in a final hearing scheduled for February, where they will be evaluated and ranked for submission to the State of Nevada Governor’s Office on Economic Development which awards the HUD funding at the state level through the CDBG program.
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