Haskell County approves application for federal CDBG funds to resurface Perry Loop Road

Haskell County commissioners voted unanimously to authorize an application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to resurface Perry Loop Road in District 2 and adopted the citizen participation plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Kim Rose of the Kimeshi Economic Development District of Oklahoma (ORKEDO) told the board the county will apply through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and that HUD provides the federal portion of the funding, making a public hearing a statutory requirement. "We have to have a public hearing because the federal portion of this funding will come through HUD," Rose said.

The project limits described to the board begin at Section Line Road and continue west to N 4415, then to N 4420 and on to E 1170 Road. Rose said the county is seeking to meet the minimum threshold of low-income residents in the project area required by the CDBG program, and that any change orders or technical assistance associated with the project would be presented to the public in subsequent hearings.

The board also acknowledged that a recent Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant approved by the county will serve as matching funds for the CDBG application. Rose described REAP as part of the agenda and said it will be used to match the CDBG funds if the application is successful.

A motion to approve the resolution authorizing the application was made by the meeting chair and seconded; a roll-call vote recorded three "Yes" votes and the resolution passed. The board then moved and approved adoption of the citizen participation plan by the same unanimous tally.

Next steps identified during the hearing included completing the application through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and following HUD requirements for citizen engagement if the project advances. No timetable for construction or award of funds was specified at the meeting.