Commission holds brief public hearing on Community Development Block Grant; no public comments

SAN JUAN COUNTY — The San Juan County Commission held a short public hearing Tuesday evening to explain eligible uses and application timing for Community Development Block Grant funding and to solicit input from residents. No members of the public offered comments, and the commission closed the hearing and adjourned.

Commissioner Lori Maughan called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and described the hearing’s purpose as providing “pertinent information about this program” and allowing discussion of possible applications. Commissioner Sylvia Stebbs moved to open the public hearing; the motion was seconded and approved with two vocal affirmations.

A staff member explained that the program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and that HUD allocates funds to the state, which are then distributed per capita to counties for eligible uses. “It comes from the Housing and Urban Development, the feds,” the staff member said, noting the county’s role is to hear public input and, if appropriate, apply for funding.

Officials described typical eligible activities: construction of public works such as sewer and water lines, acquisition of real property, fire stations, and public services including food banks and homeless shelters. The staff member said that some tribal jurisdictions, including the Navajo Nation, receive and administer their own CDBG allocations.

Commissioners asked about timing and deadlines. The staff member said applications are due by Jan. 31, with submissions required before 5 p.m., and that any county application would be the subject of a later, separate public hearing.

An online participant identified as watching did not wish to comment, and one resident suggested a community feature at a new roundabout as a possible project for consideration. With no other public input, an attendee moved to exit the hearing; the motion was seconded and approved on an oral vote. Commissioners then moved to adjourn.

No formal applications or funding decisions were made at the meeting; the hearing served only to gather potential project ideas and inform the public about the CDBG program and deadline.