Port Arthur allocating $1.1M in HUD funds to 9. See who’s getting it.

Published 12:13 am Saturday, June 13, 2020

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Nine public service organizations in Port Arthur will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development after the city was awarded $1,152,703 in Community Development Block Grant funds.

Of that, the city will allocate $172,900 to the following service organizations, including $40,000 each for Catholic Charities and the Port Cities Rescue Mission; $27,000 to Legacy Community Development Corporation; $20,000 for Nutrition and Services for Seniors; $15,000 to the Program of Health Excellence; $12,000 for the Willie Carter Community Outreach; $9,900 for First Baptist Outreach Center; $6,000 for the Ibn Sina Foundation and $3,000 for Liberty Heights.

Four interoffice agreements between the city and its departments total $979,803 and include a Downtown Housing Revitalization Program payment of $100,000, down payment and closing cost assistance of $200,000 and housing administration of $180,000; Grants Management Administration funding of $80,000; Public Works street reconstruction funding of $301,870; and Public Works sidewalk repair/Americans with Disabilities Act compliance for $117,933.

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In other city business:

  • The historic Department Club in Port Arthur will undergo a second phase of repairs to seal the building and prevent any further deterioration.

The city owns the building at 1924 Lakeshore Dr., which has been in existence for nearly a century and has been used to hold meetings and receptions.

Hurricane Harvey damaged some parts of the club in 2017.

The council awarded a contract to McInnis Construction of Silsbee worth $224,000 to commence the phase.

Phase I addressed repairs, maintenance and abatement of asbestos, lead and mold.

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been granted temporary right of access to submerged lands on Pleasure Island in preparation of dredging and maintenance there.
  • A total of 2,000 Itron residential and small commercial water meter electronic transmitters will be purchased from Republic Meter of Dallas for $146,500.
  • Section 70-60 of the city code regarding vehicles in public parks has been amended. The ordinance bans vehicles from being permitted in a city park after hours, which are posted in each location.

Privately owned commercial vehicles are not allowed in a city park at any time unless a permit has been issued by the parks director or a designee.

Violation could result in a fine of up to $500.

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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