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LETTERS AND COMMUNICATIONS <br /> <br />No comments. <br /> <br />STAFF REPORTS <br /> <br />No comments. <br /> <br />COUNCIL OLD BUSI~YESS <br /> <br />Joint Cooperative Agreement; Regarding Community Block Grant Program <br /> <br />Anoka County Administrator Ralph McGinley was present to discuss the <br />Community Block Grant Program. He informed the council that <br />Commissioner Fields could not be at the meeting because of a previous <br />commitment. He stated the purpose of the Joint Cooperative Agreement <br />is -to allow Anoka County %o make application for a HUD Block Grant. <br />This is the first year Anoka County is eligible for the grant and <br />will remain eligible for fiscal years 1981 and 1982 but may lose <br />eligibility for 1983. He said the purpose of the program, which has <br />been in effect since 1974, is basically to provide blocks of money, <br />without strings attached. However, funds must be targeted to housing <br />or the improvement of neighborhoods where there is low or moderate income. <br />Eighteen thousand dollars per year or less is considered moderate income. <br />Funds cannot be used for buildings such as City Hall. They may be used <br />for street lighting, community centers, sewers, etc. 2.3 million dollars <br />is the figure HUD gave for the block grant for Anoka County. The County <br />wi].], make the determination of what programs will receive these funds. <br />The only test of whether the County meets the criteria to get this grant <br />is that the County get enough municipalities to sign the Joint Cooperative <br />Agreement. The County will need all the municipalities in the coomty <br />to sign the agreement to qualify, for the program.- The program will <br />be administered out of the County Administration Office and staff <br />hired would be kept to a minimum. The County will rely on the municipalities <br />to develop the plan. The County will have to hire an administrator to <br />provide administration of this program. He said he would be happy to answer <br />any questions the council may have. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec said it looked like the County will be hiring an <br />administrator to oversee this program. <br /> <br />County Administrator McGinley replied that the County will be hiring <br />one full-time administrator. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec said cities such as Ramsey and Andover do not have a Planner <br />and this fact would put them behind the bigger commun'ities. He asked <br />if a city would be able to recoup dollars if it hired staff for this <br />program. <br /> <br />County Administrator McGinley replied that if the City of Ramsey extended <br />dollars, it would be recouped. He said there are no federal string <br />attached to the dollars. <br /> <br />C/September 23, 1980 <br /> Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />