Newbern receives $375,000 grant for low-income homeowners to make repairs

Randy Nelson of Nelson, Thornton PC was present at this week's Newbern City Board meeting. He and partner, Bob Thornton, are community planners from Jackson, Tenn. and will be responsible for administering the grant.

Nelson said the households must meet certain criterion to qualify. First, households must be considered low-income, which is defined as being at or below 80 percent of the county median household income as defined annually by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For example, the gross household income of a family of four must be below $39,050.

The house must also be in the applicants' name and they must have been residents there for at least one year.

Nelson said all of the city and county taxes must be current and the house must need code-related repairs.

"We don't just go in and put in kitchen cabinets or put on a room addition," said Nelson. "It has to be a sub-standard dwelling."

The program is restricted to residents of Newbern and houses within the 100-year flood plain are not eligible.

West Tennessee Legal Services will provide home ownership counseling for homeowners who qualify for the money.

If the house was built before 1978 they must have a lead-base paint test performed and if lead is found it must be dealt with. The homeowner is obligated to contribute $500 that goes toward the construction. Also, a lien is placed on the property from five to 15 years depending on the amount of money that is put into construction.

"Our objective is to bring sub-standard houses up to code compliance," said Nelson.

He also said they would like to work with general contractors in the area, but they must first submit an application and have a state license and worker's compensation.

They will put out advertisement for bids and open the bids at city hall and the contractor will sign the contract with the homeowner.

The board then voted to adopt the policies and procedures for the program. The resolution passed unanimously.

The city of Newbern will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. at Newbern City Hall to give more information to residents.

Next on the agenda, was the opening of bids for the annual tree trimming for the electric department. Four tree-trimming services presented bids: Townsend - $89.89 per hour, Blume - $88.03 per hour, Wolfe - $78.65 per hour and Eaves $76.36 per hour. Alderman Bill Parks made the motion to accept the lowest bid, which was Eaves Tree Service. The motion passed by unanimous decision.

Lance Smith gave a report for Veteran Management Services, which operates the city's wastewater treatment plant and water plant. Smith said they would shut down flow from Jimmy Dean Foods to repair a major part on Aug. 22.

Dan Post, supervisor of the recreation department said they removed the old phone booth and the water fountain from the park and the swimming pool is closed down. It brought in $34,500 this summer with approximately 8,000 attendees, which is a couple thousand less than average.

Steve Dodds with the street department said work was finished on the sodding and building a headwall on Nora Drive.

Sandy Hill, electric department supervisor said the tree trimming will begin in September and will take about two months. He said they have 10 property owners that have signed releases to remove 17 trees that are endangering power lines. He also said gas service to the soon-to-open McDonald's and Flash Market is complete.

Casey King, water and sewer supervisor said water meters are also set at the McDonald's and Flash Market.

During the mayor's report, Mayor K.W. Dennison said Depot Days is Saturday, Sept. 19, and they still need some more volunteers.

Pastor Shawn Sullivan of the Newbern Church of Christ offered a new logo for Depot Days, which he designed. Sullivan suggested Bobby Garrison and Carl Mann as two possible musical performers for Depot Days.

Alderman Bill Parks asked what action did the board need to take to have the television transmitter and receiver fixed so the board meetings could be televised.

The board meetings have not been televised for some time now.

City Recorder Jason Roberts said they have been in contact with the government liaison for Charter Communications, Nick Pavalis, but have not made any headway in the matter. The city's contract with Charter is until 2012. Charter was to supply them with the original equipment and nothing more.

Roberts said the price for to new equipment would be $6,000.

"Well, we either need to say we're not going to have it no more or we're going to have to spend the money to get it," said Vice Mayor Kathy Clements.

Dennison asked the board did they want to spend $6,000 to get the new equipment. Nobody replied they wanted to spend the money.

After the meeting, Roberts and Parks were able to talk to Pavalis, but there is no word if the equipment will be fixed at this time.