Peabody housing to get boost from county
Staff writer
A plan to improve homes in need of repair in a 16-block area of Peabody contingent upon getting a state grant, got a boost Monday from county commissioners.
Peabody Community Foundation director Becky Nickel talked to commissioners about an application for a community development block grant that would require a match.
She said she had been talking to potential sponsors about donations when Sunflower Wind said she should talk to the county about getting some of the $400,000 the company gave the county.
Deadline for the match is Dec. 31.
Commissioner Jonah Gehring noted that Nickel was coming to the county with little time remaining.
Nickel also said a rural family had donated a three-bedroom home that would be placed in Peabody’s land bank property and sold as part of the effort.
Commissioners were leery of donating to only one of five land banks in the county.
“If we’re going to do one of them, we’re going to do five,” Kent Becker said.
But foundation member Ron Traxson suggested that the county could give the money but with a cap on such donations.
Commissioners voted to give the foundation’s community improvement fund $10,000 toward the project.
The area targeted for home improvement is bordered by Sycamore, Vine, 2nd, and 9th Sts.
Commissioners also heard complaints about the condition of Yarrow Rd.
John Siebert, who lives on the road, said the road was in such poor condition it no longer had a base.
The road is designated a federal supply road.
“The county gets money from the federal government to maintain it,” Siebert said.
Commission chairman David Mueller asked Siebert whether he had spoken to the road and bridge department.
Siebert said he had not known he could contact them directly but thought the commissioners could do so.
Paul Helmer, who lives at Yarrow and 220th Rds. spoke to commissioners at the end of the meeting to voice his own thoughts on the poor condition of the road.