County lists key projects for annual grant applications

Tacna water work seen as top priority

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors prioritized projects submitted for its upcoming Community Development Block Grant applications, with the need for improvements to the water system for the community of Tacna coming out on top.

Tacna residents recently set up an improvement district so they could take over the leaking water tank and other infrastructure from the defunct ownership company and begin looking for funding to replace nearly all of it.

County staff, working with the residents, is seeking $125,000 to hire an engineering firm to create preliminary design and environmental review reports for a revamped water distribution system, which is necessary to apply for further grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

District 2 Supervisor Russell McCloud initially suggested another East County request, for $150,000 to build an Americans with Disabilities-compliant playground just east of the Foothills Library on South Frontage Road.

“They’ve been asking for that out there for longer than you and I have been on this board,” he said, referring to board Chairman Tony Reyes, first elected to the board in 1998.

But District 5 Supervisor Darren Simmons, who represents both the Foothills and Tacna, said getting the water system for the original townsite repaired was a larger priority for him. He lives in Tacna, but his home is served by a differ-

ent water system, he said.

“I’d rather see it go to Tacna because you’re talking about the entire town there being without water,” Simmons said. “I’d like the ADA (playground), but .... ” The well water was considered for years to be unsafe to drink due to high arsenic levels, though the current management company said it was under the maximum standard when the board approved formation of the district last fall.

There are a total of 251 properties and 343 property owners within the improvement district.

So the playground ended up at the bottom of the list of eight projects, as the board priorities water and shelter projects over recreational amenities, including the long-pursued installation of new lights at Gadsden Park.

Housing America’s proposal to rehabilitate the 16-unit Orchid Street Apartments in Somerton for $152,000 came in second on the list, with an $80,000 request from the Healing Journey to expand its programming to include sex trafficking awareness ranked No. 3.

Those projects will be enough to consume the approximately $400,000 the county estimates it will be getting through the CDBG process this year, but the other submissions were also ranked in case one of the top three projects ends up dropping out.

Improvements to Catholic Community Services’ Safe House shelter worth $37,000 was put at no. 4, followed by Yuma County Housing Department’s request for $150,000 for its rehab program, and Campesinos sin Fronteras’ request for $100,000 for emergency repairs for up to 12 South County homes.

District 1 Supervisor Martin Porchas said that for the next round, he’d like more information about which projects have been awarded CDBG grants in previous years.

In other action Wednesday, the board:

• Approved leasing 6,610 square feet on the first floor of the Adult Probation building 410 S. Maiden Lane, to Community Health Associates, which has won a grant from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System’s Targeted Investment Program to open a clinic for probationers to get physical and mental health care in the same building they receive other services. The rent on the 5-year lease will be $10,906 a month,

• Voted to rezone 5 acres at 1584 W. County 17 1/2 Street from Rural Area-5 acre lot minimum to Rural Area, 2-acre minimum. The county Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at its November meeting.

• Voted to extend the deadline for the owners of three properties whose owners have not met the required development schedule to maintain their zoning. These are located on the south side of County 10th Street east of Camino del Diablo near Mesa del Sol, south of Old Highway 80 at the Avenue 39E alignment in Tacna, and Masterson Avenue east of Foothills Boulevard in the Foothills.

• Appointed members to serve on various boards and commissions on which the board has a representative.

• Heard an update on improvements to 197 S. Main St., the century-old renovated building where some employees have reported experiencing respiratory issues, bad odors and other issues since they began moving in a little over a year ago.

General Services Director Dave Hyland said asbestos-containing material is being removed by crews this week, and local firm GCI Construction has been awarded the contract to clean up the space, seal up walls with exposed insulation and do some electrical work. He said the work, expected to cost about $170,000, will be paid for by Capital Improvement Plan contingency funds.

• A closed executive session was held after the regular meeting, for the board to hear legal advice regarding an agreement between El Prado Improvement District and Sierra Pacific Mobile Home Park, as affected by acceptance of a USDA Rural Development Grant.