Housing Authority hears updates on renovations
The Forrest City Housing Authority is continuing to renovate its complexes.
During a recent meeting of the agency’s board of directors, FCHA Executive Director Denise Grady discussed the renovations, a new laundromat and the need to reappoint board members.
According to Grady, the project’s architect has submitted additional blueprints to the agency for review.
"At our last meeting, we looked at blueprints of the apartments we are looking at converting," said Grady. "We looked at several different things about the rafters and some problems and concerns. We got with the architect to draw up some options. We are putting the bathroom downstairs now and they are a little bit bigger. These are also not going to have a second floor. They will only be one story. Some will be three bedroom and some will be two bedroom. We want them to be similar to Turner Circle. We have no issues getting them rented when they are available, and we want to do the same in Grobmyer. These units will be new, spacious and nice."
Board members agreed to send the drawings back to the architect for minor changes regarding the bathroom and laundry area before reviewing them again at the next meeting.
Grady said only one of four laundromats in the Grobmyer Circle complex is open currently due to constant break-ins, but said she would like to open another.
"We were talking about the four laundromats that we have," said Grady. "Only one of these is in use, due to constant break-ins at the other locations. We are wanting to reopen one of the laundromats, but have the machines fitted with a type of card reader so that there’s no more money just sitting in the building. We received a quote from a company in Springfield, Mo., for $13,000 to get this done."
The board asked Grady to get another quote from a company closer than Springfield.
In other business, Grady explained to the board that the terms of both chairman Arthur Bean and board member Emily Holley are expiring at the end of April.
(Continued from Page 1) "I would love for this board to remain the same, however Mr. Bean's and Mrs. Holley's terms are ending on May 1," said Grady. "We reappoint our members. I need all of you to either nominate the current members, if they are okay with that, and I need to count the votes."
Bean and Holley were both reappointed. However, Holley stressed that she would remain on the board only until a replacement could be found for her position. establish a book mobile to bring library books to low-income neighborhoods.
"Or a reading program. We are still really focused on grade-level reading and trying to get students reading on grade level by the third grade," said Jayroe. "That's a big initiative in Arkansas and we are still supporting that."
Nonprofits that were awarded funding include: Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation for screening of men in St. Francis County; All Veterans Empowerment Services, Brayboy Safety Against Domestic Violence for emergency housing, Bright Futures USA for start-up funds for the program, Cara McCollum Birthday Book Project, Department of Human Services for foster children needs, The Food Bank of NEA for a backpack program, Forrest City Downtown Revitalization for the horsedrawn carriages for the Downtown Christmas event, Forrest City Fire Department for fire safety handouts, Forrest City Little Theater to help increase social media presence due to Covid, J.B. Fireballers for general support and new equipment, Quapaw Area Boy Scouts, Single Parent Scholarship, SFC Care Center to assist in utility bills, SFC Museum for audio and visual history equipment, and SFC Elves for its annual toy drive.
The Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million grants over 20 years, according to Jayroe.
For more information, contact Jayroe at 870-261-2060 or through email at stfranciscounty@arcf.org