By TESA CULLI
tesa.culli@register-news
MT. VERNON — A ground breaking ceremony was held Monday morning to begin work on a new facility for the Housing Authority of Jefferson County.
“This is the first of our projects using (American Recovery Reinvestment Act) funds,” HAJC Executive Director Tom Upchurch said. “This building will allow us to better serve our tenants on site. ... We’ve seen the need for a long time, but it wasn’t possible without the ARRA funds.”
The building will be located next to the community room, and be approximately 24 by 30 feet once completed. The $121,000 construction project was awarded to Galloway Construction of Marion, after the project went to sealed bid, under U.S. Housing and Urban Development requirements.
“We first tried to get quotes, and HUD requires we get at least two or three before we can award,” Upchurch explained. “We only got two, so, by HUD rules, we then went out for sealed bid. We received 11 bids, and there were several local contractors who bid on the project. Galloway was the lowest bidder.”
The new location will also help with “decentralizing” the offices of HAJC, another HUD requirement.
“Our other office will remain intact, but this is a way to decentralize and put folks on other sites than our main office,” Upchurch said. “It’s a way to bring the services to the folks.”
Upchurch said there are other projects coming up which will also utilize ARRA funds. A window replacement project, new screen doors and re-paving of parking lots will also be getting underway.
“A lot of residents have been complaining about the increased energy costs, and we hope the windows will help with that,” Upchurch said.
