Latest news with #BoardofCountyCommissioners
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Thurston County OKs awarding $950,000 for Tumwater affordable housing project for seniors
Thurston County will pay $950,000 to help rehabilitate 24 units of affordable rental housing for seniors in Tumwater. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with the Housing Authority of Thurston County last Tuesday for that purpose. The housing units are part of the Sterling Pines development at 5895 Capital Blvd. SW, formerly known as Tumwater Inn and Suites. About $9.8 million from state and local sources had previously been dedicated to the project, but more funding was needed to pay for higher-than-anticipated rehabilitation costs. County documents indicate HATC needs to replace drywall and insulation in the walls and ceiling of the complex due to asbestos and methamphetamine contamination. HATC's director of development and administration Tom Rawson said, 'We're ecstatic!' HATC Executive Director Craig Chance echoed that sentiment. 'We are very grateful for the support of the Regional Housing Council and the Board of County Commissioners,' Chance said. Renovations are expected to be completed by late January 2026 and seniors are expected to start moving a month later, Chance said. Sterling Pines will feature two studio, 13 one-bedroom and 9 two-bedroom units for seniors 62 and older. Half of the units will be reserved for households that make at or below 30% of area median income (AMI); the other half will be for households at or below 50% area median income. The most recent figures for Thurston County's AMI put it at about $93,000; that means 30% would be about $28,000 per year, and 50% would be about $46,500. 'Sterling Pines will provide affordable, good quality housing for seniors who are struggling with incomes typically limited to a modest Social Security benefit,' Chance said. Chance said Sterling Pines is being funded without debt and will be backed by the 'strength of the HATC property portfolio, so it will not be reliant on vouchers or other operating subsidies.' HATC leadership felt motivated to take this approach due to low and seemingly disappearing federal funding, he said. Chance said the U.S. Congress funds the federal housing voucher program at a level that at best serves 25% of income eligible households, and the current budget proposal in Congress includes substantial funding reductions. 'In America, seniors are the fastest growing segment of people entering the nightmares of homelessness, most of them for the first time in their long lives,' Chance said. 'Every week we hear from seniors either in or nearing the crisis.' Chance said these seniors typically do not have mental or behavioral health issues that drive them to homelessness. He said they simply cannot afford market-rate housing on fixed incomes. HATC purchased the property in 2023 with the help of a Rapid Capital Housing Acquisitions funding award from the Washington state Department of Commerce. HATC has spent over $700,000 of its own funds for the project but was still coming up short due to the extreme contamination in the building. 'By removing the contamination, replacing defective building components, and bringing the property up to code, the units will be, in essence, new units,' Chance said. 'Doing it right, as opposed to making shortcuts, is consistent with our goal of making the property a safe, nice place to live and an attractive neighborhood asset for decades. Cutting corners was not an option.' Without the new funding from the county, HATC would have likely been forced to spend more of its own cash reserves. 'HATC properties are financially self-substantiating; those reserves allow the agency to replace roofs, re-paint buildings, etc., without reliance on grants or other sources,' Chance said. 'Thus, taking a large amount from capital improvement reserves was not a desirable option.' Such an outcome would have likely caused HATC to cut services, defer spending on other projects or even raise rents at Sterling Pines or other properties. Given HATC's affordability goals, Chance said raising rents was 'not a good option.' The county is using the Regional Housing Council's Opportunity Fund to provide the $950,000 award. The council, which makes recommendations to the county commission, created the fund in January 2024 to provide money for projects outside its annual request-for-proposals process. HATC originally applied for the funding via that RFP process in February, but the RHC's Affordable Housing Advisory Board decided in March that the request could best be met by the Opportunity Fund. 'To receive an award from the Opportunity Fund, the project must be emergent in nature, have been unforeseen at the time of the most recent RFP, and need the funding in order to actualize the project,' said Jen Freiheit, director of Thurston County Public Health and Social Services. Freiheit said the Opportunity Fund was at about $2.15 million at the start of the year. After this award, the fund will have $1.2 million. County documents indicate 20% of anticipated annual revenue for affordable housing capital projects is placed in the Opportunity Fund.
Travel Daily News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Miami International Airport to expand passenger capacity
Miami-Dade approves $600m. Concourse K at Miami International Airport, adding six gates and infrastructure upgrades to meet rising passenger and cargo demand by 2040. MIAMI, FL – The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners approved the construction of new Concourse K at Miami International Airport (MIA), a transformative infrastructure project marking a significant milestone in MIA's ambitious $9 billion Future-Ready Modernization in Action plan. With an investment of $600.6 million, this expansion will deliver six new gates, a ground support equipment maintenance facility, enhanced baggage handling systems, and critical upgrades to airfield infrastructure – all designed to meet the growing demand for passenger traffic. The Modernization in Action plan positions Miami International Airport to accommodate 77 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2040. The project includes: Design and construction of six new contact gates Construction of an associated aircraft apron and jet fuel hydrant system A ground support equipment maintenance facility Installation of two new baggage make-up carousels Upgrades to the existing baggage handling system to connect the Central and South Terminals Envision LEED Silver certification for sustainable infrastructure 'MIA has not seen a terminal expansion since 2007, making this a truly transformative milestone for our airport. The launch of Concourse K will not only increase capacity and create thousands of new jobs but also reinforce MIA's role as a premier Global Gateway. With the unwavering support of the Board of County Commissioners and the dedication of Director Ralph Cutie, his team, and our airport partners, we are making visionary, future-ready investments that will build a stronger, more vibrant airport – one that uplifts our community, welcomes the world, and powers our economy into the future.' said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. With nearly 56 million passengers and more than 3 million U.S. tons of freight recorded in 2024 alone, the demand for additional space and improved efficiency at MIA continues to grow. Concourse K is a key part of Miami-Dade County's historic investments to modernize the airport's facilities and meet record-breaking demand while improving service, safety, and operational flow. Construction of Concourse K is set to begin following a ceremonial groundbreaking this summer and is scheduled for completion by Spring 2029. Lemartec-NV2A JV, LLC has been awarded the general contractor contract, with Perez & Perez Architects Planners, Inc. serving as the lead architect.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mecklenburg County Public Health receives accreditation with honors from State Board
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Mecklenburg County Public Health has been accredited with honors by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board. Accreditation is a status granted to a local health department that has demonstrated or exceeded the standards set by NCLHD. Public Health was recognized for this achievement by the Board of County Commissioners at its May 20 meeting. The North Carolina accreditation process seeks to assure and enhance the quality of local health departments by evaluating their ability to meet a list of requirements that align with the 10 essential public health functions. NCLHD determined that Mecklenburg County Public Health met 147 out of 147 of the requirements listed to receive the highest designation of accreditation with honors. Public Health leaders recently attended the NCLHD Board meeting to receive this designation. During the meeting, Mecklenburg County was recognized for its best practices in community-driven HIV care and prevention, and for having strong support for public health from the Board of County Commissioners. Accreditation in North Carolina occurs on a four-year cycle. However, this was a six-year cycle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Doña Ana County takes steps to terminate Camino Real Regional Utility Authority
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Doña Ana County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to take steps to end the agreement that created the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority. The Board of County Commissioners took the vote at its meeting on Tuesday, May 13. The County said it is giving the City of Sunland Park immediate notice of its intent to terminate the joint powers agreement (JPA) that created CRRUA. CRRUA conducts 'cost of service' survey to look at rates Board of County Commissioners Chair Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez said it was 'for mutual benefit to all parties.' The County said it 'quickly notified' the City of Sunland Park after the Commission's vote and will follow up with a formal, written notice. The most recent version of the JPA was amended in 2024 and the agreement's termination provisions require parties to notify each other, if they wish to terminate the agreement, the County said. County staff will work with the City of Sunland Park to develop a plan for a transition and for dividing assets and debt of the utility, the County said. Until that process is completed, CRRUA will continue to operate the water and wastewater services in the southern area of the County and within the City of Sunland Park, the County said. 'It is difficult to estimate how long this process will take to stand down CRRUA. The County intends to assess CRRUA's system assets to determine needs and priorities,' the County said. 'We are committed to being transparent in this process and keeping utility customers informed. We will also explore ways in which we can provide short-term assistance to residents,' County Manager Scott Andrews said. 'We will share more details as soon as we can and move forward in community (meetings), working with our state stakeholders, including the Governor's Office, the New Mexico Border Authority and others, as needed.' We have reached out to CRRUA for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Following recent rainfall, the burn ban in Brevard County has been lifted
Thanks to the recent rains, Brevard County is excited to share that the current mean average Drought Index has now fallen below 450. The recent decrease in the Drought Index has prompted Brevard County to rescind the ban on open burning; furthermore, the prohibition on fireworks has also been lifted. The Board of County Commissioners, Brevard County Fire Rescue officials, Brevard County Emergency Management and the Division of Forestry will continue to monitor conditions to determine the need for further bans. Though the KBDI has dropped, wildfires still have the potential to develop. Brevard County Fire Rescue urges citizens to know their surroundings when burning yard waste or fireworks. To reduce wildfire risk, residents should maintain a defensible space of at least 30 feet around homes by mowing grass and removing vegetation. Before burning, check the weather forecast and avoid burning on days with high winds or low humidity. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
