CONTACT:
Gloria D. Rybinski
Highlands County BCC
600 South Commerce Ave.
Sebring, Fl. 33870
Phone: (863) 402-6836
E-mail grybinsk@hcbcc.org
HIGHLANDS COUNTY PUBLIC NOTICE
HIGHLANDS COUNTY INTENDS TO APPLY FOR
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
HURRICANE DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING
Highlands County (the County) is applying for CDBG Disaster Recovery Initiative (DRI) funding in the amount of $207,223. This funding is to aid in the recovery of the effects of Tropical Storm Fay, and has been provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered through the Florida Department of Community Affairs (FDCA).
Specifically, Highlands County shall satisfy an urgent and unmet need (as identified in the Highlands County Local Mitigation Strategy) by providing for future mitigation against storms of similar magnitude through:
The installation of emergency generators at existing storm shelters in Highlands County: The County proposes to install emergency electricity generators at Fred Wild Elementary School, Avon Elementary School and the Special Needs Shelter at the Agri-Civic Center. The schools are currently being used as emergency shelters, and the generators would be used to provide electricity to the schools’ refrigerators, preventing the spoilage of food in times of emergency. The generator at the Agri-Civic Centerwill be used for refrigeration of food and to provide electricity to operate medical equipment for the Special Needs Shelter.
Highlands County will comply with the State of Florida CDBG DRI Action Plan and Associated Rule, Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, and all other regulations affecting the use of funds under the CDBG Disaster Recovery Initiative program.
Any member of the public wishing to know more about the proposed project should contact Mary Foy, Highlands County Community Programs Director via phone (863.402.6626) or email (Mfoy@hcbcc.org). Written comments from the public will be accepted through 5:00 pm on April 10, 2010. The application and additional information relating to the proposed project is available Monday thru Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm at 501 South Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL.
HIGHLANDS COUNTY PUBLIC NOTICE
HIGHLANDS COUNTY INTENDS TO APPLY FOR
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
HURRICANE DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING
Highlands County is applying for CDBG Disaster Recovery Initiative (DRI) funding in the amount of $207,223. This funding has been provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered through the Florida Department of Community Affairs (FDCA). This funding is to aid in the recovery of the effects of Tropical Storm Fay.
Highlands County will comply with the State of Florida CDBG DRI Action Plan and Rule, Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, the Stafford Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and all other regulations affecting the use of funds under the Disaster Recovery Initiative CDBG program. The funding can only be used for selected activities that are directly related to Tropical Storm Fay. The application will be submitted to FDCA on or before January 15, 2010.
This funding will assist Highlands County in recovering from the effects of Tropical Storm Fay and shall provide for future mitigation against storms of similar magnitude. Highlands County intends to utilize the funding for the following unmet needs priority activity, as declared by the Highlands County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Committee:
· The completion of construction of an emergency shelter in the Town of Lake Placid: This activity will address meeting an unmet need, as the Town does not have a practical hurricane shelter space within the Town limits, and will include accommodations for those with special needs, such as the elderly or handicapped persons. The Town proposes to save tax dollars by developing a single facility for both a neighborhood center and hurricane shelter, to be owned and operated by the Town Council. The DRI funding shall be leveraged with regular CDBG, Disaster Mitigation and other funding to complete construction. The project is planned to commence in mid 2010 and will be completed in mid 2011. The CDBG DRI funds would be used towards the cost of addressing new shelter code (FEMA 361) and other shelter upgrades for practical use of the facility by Highland County Emergency Management during hurricane events. For CDBG national objectives, the project serves both an urgent need and LMI households. The County proposes an inter-local agreement with the Town of Lake Placid for administration of the grant.
Any member of the public wishing to know more about the proposed project should contact Mary Foy, Highlands County Human Services, phone 863.402.6626 220, e-mail Mfoy@hcbcc.org Written comments from the public will be taken through 5:00pm on January 15, 2010. Information relating to the proposed project is available Monday thru Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm at 501 South Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL.
The Town of Lake Placid proposes to complete a Hurricane Shelter/Neighborhood Center in the predominantly Low and Moderate Income (LMI) municipality of the Town of Lake Placid (Town). The Service Area is the Jurisdiction limits of the Town. The Town is over 50% LMI according to Census data and the local economy is based upon service industries and agriculture. The Town does not have a neighborhood center for community events or a hurricane rated shelter within the Town limits. The Town proposes to save tax dollars by developing a single facility owned and operated by the Town Council to fulfill both these needs. Highlands County seeks to utilize Tropical Storm Fay Disaster Recovery Initiative (TSFAY DRI) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist the Town with the cost of the difference in construction cost due to FEMA 361 requirements over a minimal Florida + Local code for a neighborhood center. The Highlands County EM/EOC would be responsible for coordination of the use of the facility during declared events. This project is identified as an unmet need in the Highlands County LMS.
Local shelters primarily serve LMI families living in substandard housing and mobile homes that are unsafe and ordered evacuated during declared hurricane events, such as the Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Wilma and Fay events. Since there are no such shelters in the Town limits or nearby, LMI families ordered evacuated to shelters must drive at least 20 minutes to a shelter in Sebring or 40 minutes to a shelter in Bartow, assuming that space is not already at capacity due to local LMI residence needs. One new facility (steel building with block façade) is proposed at an estimated cost of $1,800,000. TSFAY DRI CDBG funds will only be used for the eligible Hurricane Shelter upgrades to the shelter space, bathrooms, showers, backup generator and similar items that meet TSFAY DRI CDBG objectives.
The Town has been awarded a CDBG of $750,000. The Town has set aside roughly $300,000 of local funds for the project. The special appropriation of $500,000 in TSFAY DRI CDBG funds for this project will be used for shelter upgrades to the design. The County is seeking available DRI CDBG funds and additional FEMA funds to help fund the project. It is expected that approximately 40% of the engineer estimated cost will be needed for hardening of the facility by design to meet hurricane shelter requirements. A very preliminary cost is $1,800,000 for this facility.
The project is not in the FIRM flood plain and affects no sensitive lands.
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