Huachuca City public hearing prioritizes Activity Center kitchen and ADA upgrades for CDBG consideration

Huachuca City residents urged the town on March 21 to prioritize modernizing the Activity Center if the council pursues the town’s FY2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regional-account award. Diane Hildebrant, a resident of 175 Skyline, said the building’s ramp “is great, but once they get to the doors, they can’t open them,” and she pressed for an accessible kitchen so the center can serve seniors and host community programs.

Mayor Johann Wallace and staff emphasized that the council must compile a specific candidate project list for the regional-account application, and that a broader modernization could be scoped for State Special Projects (SSP) funding for planning and design. Town Manager Suzanne Harvey and Councilmembers discussed whether the town should pursue a single large project (the regional account favors one primary implementation project) or use SSP to fund engineering and design first so a shovel‑ready project is available when CDBG funds are awarded. Osborne, the SEAGO presenter, advised that projects submitted in the hearing record should remain on the published list even if the town later narrows choices.