HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-14
RESOLUTION 2011-14
AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR
URGENT NEEDS OPEN SUBMISSION FUNDS THROUGH
THE VIRGINIA SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Town of Pulaski has previously participated in the Small Cities
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program as administered by the Virginia
Department of Housing and Community Development (VDHCD) in order to address the Town's
priority community development needs; and
WHEREAS, on April 8, 2011 an F-2 tornado touched down in the oldest residential azea
in the Town of Pulaski and the community suffered severe and widespread housing damage; and
WHEREAS, Governor Robert F. McDonnell declazed a state of emergency on April 17,
2011, in response to the severe weather in an effort to direct all possible resources towazds
responding to the event; and
WHEREAS, the Governor made a request on April 18, 2011, to President Bazack Obama
for a federal disaster declaration to assist Virginia's response and it was denied on May 7, 2011,
as was the appeal by the Governor to the President's ruling on June 23, 2011; and
WHEREAS, the Town has therefore identified the Pulaski Tornado Recovery Project as
the priority community development need based on the neighborhood's damaged housing
conditions, and the Town's need to provide financial assistance to the low- and moderate-income
(LMI) households that were uninsured or under-insured to help repair and/or replace their
primary residences; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Pulaski is unable to finance the improvement program solely
using local resources and is therefore seeking relief from federal and state resources but remains
confronted with a shortfall in funding; and
WHEREAS, Pulaski County received a FY 2011 CDBG Planning Grant from VDHCD
to undertake a comprehensive project area needs study for both the County and Town and
prepare an Urgent Needs Open Submission Grant (UNOS) application to fund a proposed
improvement program to address said needs; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Pulaski and Pulaski County conducted surveys of the
households impacted by the tornado, provided housing counselors to assist the households in
need of immediate and long-range assistance, conducted citizen meetings, formed a project
management team, made inspections of the physical damage to the area housing; and
WHEREAS, said assessments and surveys identified the need to address various levels
of housing damage with an improvement program and funding for housing rehabilitation and
substantial reconstruction of houses as well as demolition and clearance of destroyed units; and
WHEREAS, the Pulaski Town Council wishes to apply for UNOS funds to assist in
implementing the Pulaski Tornado Recovery Project with said project benefiting 13 residential
units (27 people) of which 100% of the 13 households (27 persons) are LMI and the demolition
activity will benefit the entire project area of approximately 428 households; and
WHEREAS, Town of Pulaski has committed to waive fees for building and demolition
permits; and
WHEREAS, the application for the $700,000 to be submitted by the Town will assist in
eliminating the existing destruction which is currently posing a serious and immediate threat to
the health, safety and welfare of the local residents; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Pulaski properly advertised and conducted public hearings on
Mazch 2, 2009, and April 28, 2011, which addressed the CDBG program and the proposed
CDBG project application, thereby meeting citizen participation requirements; and
WHEREAS, property owners and the Pulaski Tomado Recovery Project Management
Team have requested the Town proceed post haste in resolving the problems identified in the
neighborhood and in securing necessazy funds to carry out the tornado recovery urgent needs
project.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Pulaski Town Council that: the
Pulaski Town Manager, the Town's chief administrative official, is hereby authorized to execute
and file all appropriate documents for the Town of Pulaski's 2011 Virginia Community
Development Block Grant Urgent Needs application totaling $700,000 in grant funds and to
provide such additional information as may be required by the Virginia Department of Housing
and Community Development.
TOWN OF PULASKI
orable Je W
ayor, Town of Pulaski, Virginia
ATTEST:
Clerk of Council