BEAUMONT — An organization that spoke with the Jefferson County Commissioners Court roughly a month before Tropical Storm Harvey hit is still interested in the Al Price State Juvenile Commissioners Court on Highway 69.

Mike Conner, a spokesman with Beaumont Dream Center, spoke at a workshop before the regular meeting of commissioners court on Monday morning. He last spoke to them in late July but Brent Weaver, Precinct 2 commissioner, was absent and he wanted to hear more.

Plans are to develop the correctional facility that has been vacant for several years into a state of the art recovery center. The work will be done through the Los Angeles Dream Center.

Beaumont Dream Center is asking for free utilities for the first six months so they can develop systems. Currently, it cost the county $60,000 a year for utilities at Al Price. Utilities are $8,000 per month with the building empty. They are also asking for a 30-year lease.

Conner said they want to replicate what has been done at the Los Angeles facility and they believe Al Price would be an ideal facility.

“We want to make a difference in Jefferson County,” he said. “We have no qualms in taking on such a large facility (54 acres). We will have it operational in a year.”

They will partner with Harbor House, according to Tom Jones with the organization. It started in Florida in 1989 to provide services to the at-risk populations of senior adults and troubled teens.

Conner told the commissioners Jones has the experience in procuring grants.

One plan is to offer affordable micro housing of 60 400-square-foot one-bedroom mobile homes for people who have been displaced by Harvey or someone who just completed their program; and, the micro housing can serve as a bridge until something else comes along.

The micro housing would be placed on the old baseball diamond on the facility.

“Twenty-four percent of Jefferson County residents are food insecure according to demographics which means they don’t eat three meals a day,” Conner said. “This would be a complete life change. It’s not a handout, it’s a hand up.”

The Dream Center will be built in phases:

Phase I is for acquiring the property.

Phase II is for determining what’s needed.

Phase III is when construction starts.

Phase IV is for building partnerships.

Phase V is for engaging the community.

Weaver asked Conner how many volunteers are available to work the property. Conner said anywhere from 25 to 50 and it could be as high as 100 if churches volunteer. He added they have partnered with half a dozen local churches.

Weaver asked how many fulltime employees are at the facility. Conner said they haven’t gotten there yet. He and his wife are the only fulltime employees and they get their salaries from the LA Dream Center.

Conner, furthermore, thinks only night security will be necessary at the facility because they are not going after people who are high-risk for security.

They would start out with renovating one building at a time. Conner said he knows a fire inspector who can meet with him quickly. He added the office and the gymnasium are in good shape.

Weaver asked Jones how confident he was grant funding would be available. Jones said there are grants to retrofit and he has a 99 percent success rate in applying for grants.

“The grant people love what we do and there’s even more out there since the tragedy here with the flooding,” Jones said.

Everette “Bo” Alfred, Precinct 4 commissioner, asked what does the Dream Center mean by vetting applicants. Conner said there’s a 15-page application process and applicants can stay a minimum of three days if they’re interested to know exactly what the program is about.

“It’s not easy, but it’s doable if they want go get their life turned around,” he said.

Alfred asked if they could get the grants in six months to a year. Jones said there are two grant cycles per year. He added that if the Dream Center knows they are getting the facility they could begin the grant cycle the first part of 2018 and know in six months.

Eddie Arnold, Precinct 1 commissioner, said a feasibility period needs to be established in the contract so it will not tie up the county if things fall through and they’re trying to find another client for the property in six months.

“It’s an opportunity for you to vacate the lease if you can’t perform,” he said.

Conner said since Tropical Storm Harvey, there are many needs in the area and they sympathize because there is a lack of housing. He added that the Dream Center has been contacted by charitable organizations throughout the nation.

“We want to be part of the community. We’ve been baptized in the flood. We lost everything,” Conner said.

Branick reported at the regular meeting as of this past Friday, 17 percent of the debris that existed has been picked up.

“People should start to see a marked difference. I know it’s sometimes hard to tell, but progress has been made,” he said.

The commissioners, consequently, approved pricing for the removal of white goods and household hazardous waste:

• Removal and disposal of white goods

– With Freon

0-15 miles to designate disposal facility  $70 each

15.1 miles or more to designated disposal facility $70 each

– Without Freon

0-15 miles to designated disposal facility $30 each

15.1 miles or more to designated disposal facility $35 each

• Removal of household hazardous waste

0-15 miles to designated facility $12.95 per pound

15.1 miles or more to designated disposal facility $13.95 per pound