FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison Housing Authority has given notice to the Lee County Board of Supervisors that they intend to end a services contract for county-owned apartment buildings.
The move comes as the County reviews its current building inventory with an eye toward divesting itself of properties to streamline revenues and expenses.
Housing Authority Director Michael Dear submitted a letter to county officials on March 16 following a meeting that day of the FMHA board of commissioners.
“At today’s regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Fort Madison Housing Authority, the commissioners discussed at length the feasibility of remaining in the contract with the County for the maintenance and administration of the County housing units. Due to recent objections by HUD, it was determined our agency needs to terminate the contract giving appropriate 60-day notice,” Dear wrote.
Dear said the county will be collecting rents on the properties in Fort Madison and any calls for maintenance will be directed to contractors.
“Considering the current climate of how the County is reviewing its own building(s) and operations, our Board is available to work through any disposition of these buildings and assist as we are able under current restrictions with (Housing and Urban Development).
The Housing Authority recently came under scrutiny by HUD for handling of current federal funds in conjunction with county contracts.
Housing Commission Chairwoman Rebecca Bowker said the housing authority would have to take another look at the contracts after a meeting on Feb. 22.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding about what the housing authority has done and what HUD’s expectations were. That’s the issue with the contract and we’re going to look at that.”
Fast forward to March 16, and now the FMHA is canceling its contract with the county.
The Housing Authority, since its steady operation under Patti Toops, has seen two directors in the past year and a complete resetting of the board, including bringing back Linda Larkin, who ushered in the Housing Authority decades ago.
A county panel formed to review the properties owned by the county will meet again on Thursday at 9 a.m. to talk specifically about the apartments owned by the county under housing assistance programs and what to do with them.
They will also be discussing the Fort Madison Newberry Center, a facility downtown where senior programming takes place.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here