A.G. Gancarski
In good news from HUD, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry received written notice that monitoring issues from previous mayoral administrations’ reports in 2014 and 2015 had been resolved for Community Development Block Grants and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
Four problems in total have been resolved. But here’s the bad news from HUD: one of them cost the city $160,625.
The $127,000 problem: the city failed to complete compliance reviews for activities related to CDBG, HOME, and Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grants.
This required repayment of $160,625 for demolition of 13 properties, which incorrectly was paid with HUD funds. With $33,739 paid as the result of a previous monitoring visit, the balance of $126,886 had to be paid … and was.
The other issues lacked hard costs:
The first: environmental review records lacked adequate documentation to demonstrate compliance. A variety of forms were used, and project descriptions were inadequate.
Staff members, as mandated, were trained appropriately, and policies have been revised to meet HUD’s standards.
The second issue involved using an incorrect form to submit its reports, failing to “adequately” aggregate its projects, and incorrectly completing environmental assessments for individual sites instead of projects.
This issue with environmental assessments has been resolved.
The final issue: inadequate documentation of compliance with Acceptable Separation Distance guidelines set up by HUD, relative to properties within a mile of a “thermal or explosive hazard.”
As required, the city confirmed that above-ground storage tanks adjacent to the Norwood neighborhood contained neither thermal nor explosive leaks or gas.
