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ECIA Annual Report 2002Fiscal Year 2002 ECIA annual Report East Central Intergovernmental Association A Regional Response to Local Needs A REGIONAL RESPONSE TO Loc^ It is my pleasure to present to you the first Annual Report to the membership of the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA). The Annual Report showcases our activities and accomplishments throughout this past fiscal year. Fiscal year 0002 was one of change and transition for ECIA. We reflect back on the successes Bill Baum achieved throughout the past 06 years and thank him for his dedication and leadership, while continuing to look forward to the exciting new challenges the future holds. During the past nine months that I have had the opportunity to direct the programs and activities of ECIA, I have dedicated my time to learning the programs and services I was less experienced with, as well as familiarizing myself with the staff. With my appointment as Executive Director, there was a snowball effect with staff transitions, providing for several new faces at EClA. I am very enthusiastic about the team we have in place. New staff and leadership bring new ideas and a new vision. In the past several months many changes have been implemented. The ECIA Council and Executive Committee as well as the staff have been very receptive to the new ideas and have embraced each challenge with great enthusiasm. I want to thank each of you for your patience and support during this time of transition. As I move forward with my responsibilities as Executive Director, I challenge myself as well as the team that surrounds me to maintain and build upon the positive reputation we have earned throughout the years, keeping first and foremost in our minds the needs of our member governments and their respective citizens. With that in mind, I proudly present to you ECIA's Fiscal Year 2002 Annual Report. Kelley Hutton Deutmeyer, Executive Director ECIA assists in community development by providing management assistance in several vital areas, including grant and loan applications, grant administration, and technical assistance. In addition, ECIA is a U.S. Census Depository, maintaining and disttiburing census information to its members. Grants Awarded The ECIA region has eight communiries that received awards in fiscal year '02 totaling $1,802,500 with budgets of over $4.6 milliom Luxemburg will construct a municipal water systerm Delhi and Miles will construct new water towers, while Charlotte will drill a new well; all three dries wm upgrade portions of their distribution systems. Mechaniesville and Springbrook will upgrade their wastewater ueatment plants, while Grand Mound will make improvements to its sewer system. The City of Clinton received funds on behalf of New Directions, Inc. for the renovation of the Victory Garden Transitional Housing Complex into a center for homeless women with children. HOUSING Funds The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) awarded funds of $1,257,257 to three communities who received ECIA assistance with their apph'cafions. Budgets for the projects total nearly $1.4 million. DeWitt is providing homeownership assistance in the form of rehabilitation and/or downpayment assistance. Edgewood is offering housing rehabilitation assistance to ten homeowners, while Manchester is providing homeownership assistance for both dry-wide and targeted southwest neighborhood rehabilitation needs. Other Grants In response to legislation requiring that hazards from lead-based paint be addressed in all housing where federal funding is provided, ECIA received a $48,000 grant from IDED to study the methods and costs to address lead-based paint in rehabilitation projects. A $1o,ooo Community Development Fund grant on behalf of the City of Maquoketa was funded by IDED. The funds will be used to prepare the traffic portion of their Land Use Plan. Delaware County will obtain 144 acres of land next to the Maquoketa River for a wildlife area with the $1o5,997 received through the Wildlife Habitat Grant Fund. A pre-application was prepared and submitted to the Economic Develoment Administration for $721,5oo to help fund a Business Technology Park in Clinton County. The application has received favorable comments and is awaiting funding. Projects Completed Over $3.2 million in projects were completed, including new munidpal waste- water treatment systems in Balltown and Bernard, improvements to Ryan's sanitary sewer collection and discharge systems and to Dundee's storm water drainage system. Edgewood completed construction of the Kinderwood daycare facility, while Dyersville once again became a site for the Head Start Program after a six-year absence. Camanche, Grand Mound, and Preston completed owner-oeeupied housing rehabilitation projects providing assistance to 37 households, while DeWitt assisted six homebuyers with a homeownership assistance program. Hazard Mitigation Plans are required by the State of Iowa to be eligable for state funding for Presidential Declared Disasters. Cedar and Dubuque Counties, along with 44 member communities, completed plans this year. PROJECTS IN PROGRESS Thirty-three construction-related grant programs are being administered in 24 member conanunities, with budgets exceeding $24 million. Ntmaerous cities are upgrading or constructing new municipal water system and wastewater treatment facilities. Properties damaged in the 1999 flood are being acquired, and daycare facilities are being upgraded or built in several cities. Ecru staff continues to work on completion of mzard mtigation Plans for member communaies, as wen as a Jackson County Response 2020 planning project to define and address emergency medical and fire department services. City Codification ECIA staff prepares and facilitates the adoption of city codes for member communities, as wen as provides assignee in the preparation of ordinances to amend cay codes. City codes were completed this year for the communities of Bellevue, Durant, and Edgewood. ;anendments were prepared for the cities of New Vienna and Edgewood. Washington DC Summit Delegations from the Dubuque and Clinton areas, accompanied by ECIA Executive Director Kelley Deutmeyer and Assistant Director Larry Nagle, visited Washington DC in the spring of 2002 to communicate needs of the areas to lawmakers and federal staff in an attempt to secure federal funds for projects to improve the local economy and standard of living. The groups met with numerous senators and representatives from Iowa and Illinois. Topics for the Dubuque area included the America's River Project, stormwater management, and the Southwest Arterial (IA32). The City of Clinton focused their efforts on property Square and their proposed Business technology Park. LanyNmgle Ass/stent D/rector ECIA assists local governments and development groups provide financial assistance to expanding businesses. E.C.IA. Business Growth, Inc. was established in 1983 as a non-profit Certified Development Corporation for the purpose of promoting the expansion of area businesses and the creation of new jobs. E.C.I.A Business Growth, Inc. operates business loan programs and several revolving loan funds. LOAN ACTIVITY Fiscal year 2002 saw new loan activity totaling over $2.3 million, representing 192 new jobs. While the dollar figure is slightly above last year's total, the job creation figure doubled. The chart below illustrates the distribution of the loan dollars. ADDITIONAL FUNDING The Board of Directors approved a $750,000 loan application to the USDA to establish a regional revolving loan fund. The Directors committed $1oo,ooo and the five County Boards of Supervisors each committed $17,5oo toward the local match requirement. Upon a funding commitment from the USD& the result will be a $937,500 revolving loan fund for businesses in all five counties. E.C.I.A Business Growth, Inc. presented economic development meetings entitled "Tools for Economic Developmenff in each of the five counties served by ECIA Presenters included representatives from USDA Rural Development and the US Small Business Administration, ECIA staff, as well as professionals from local private- sector lending institutions. Attendees were offered information on federal, state, and local economic development and business finance programs, including the 8BA5o4 program, Revolving Loan Funds, and the USDA Business and Industry program. Presenters also explored how to fie job creation and retention to economic development projects. The conferences afforded attendees the opportanity to network with bankers, accountants, attorneys, and various city and county officials. Jerry Schroeder Economic Development Director Established in 1978, the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority (EIRHA) operates two main programs, Public Housing end Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM EIRHA is authorized to assist 703 house- holds with the Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Prograrm The progam is designed to meet the needs of low-income families end elderly by pmvidlng rental assistance in their existing housing units. A household pays no mom than 30% of their adjusted income toward rent and utilities. Over 1,100 households benefited from the rental assistance program during the fiscal year. The total mount of rental assistance provided to lendlords on behalf of low- income elderly end families served by EIRHA was $2,238,424. PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM EIRHA owns end manages 168 public housing units in 14 communities, with 84 units each of dderly end family housing. The total budget for fiscal year '02 was $375,970. EIRHA uses rental receipts to manage end maintain the units. The average monthly rent for the fiscal year was $143.92. Although EIRHA is a tax-exempt organization, over $18,ooo was paid to local governments for payments in lieu of taxes. Self-Sufficiency Programs Designed to promote employment end offer en opportunity to save money for participating families, the Family Self-Suffidency (FSS) program offers motivational end employment skills training; budgeting/financial aid; and career, household management, end personal development eaunsefing. Fifty-two households were assisted through the FSS program this past fiscal year. At the EIRHA board meeting in February 2002, approval was granted for staff to implement en Elderly Self-Sufficiency program for Public Homing residents. The program is designed to assist the elderly with social end daily living skills. Capital Funding Program (CFP) The Department of Housing end Urben Development awards funds to housing authorities to finence capital improvements to public housing units. EIRHA was awarded $277,518 this past year, and made improvements including upgrades on storm doors, windows, air conditioners, ttoor covetings, furnaces, siding, roofing, sheds, and laundry facilities in sites across the region. Additionally, a $273,o8o fiscal year 'oo CFP grant was closed out during fiscal year '02. Michelle Schnier Housing Director ECIA administers the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in Dubuque and Delaware unties. The agency provides employment and training opportunities for low-income people and other special groups. WIA offers assistance through classroom, pre-employment and on-the-job training. ECIA also administers the Welfare-To-Work and Promise Jobs Program to assist welfare redpients in becoming self-sufflcient. Work Force Investment Act The Workforee Investment Act provides employment and training services to low-income youth and adults with low or moderately low incomes. WlA also provides these services to workers who have recently been laid off or terminated from a job, are eligable for unemployment insurance or have exhansed it, and are tmlikely to return to their former occupations. Through the various components of this program, 752 chents have been served as illustrated in the chart. PROMISE JOBS Promise Jobs is Iowa's welfare reform program, emphasizing the view of public assistance as an investment in families aimed at helping them become self-suflident With the help of program staff, welfare recipients develop and implement a plan for reaching self- anflidency and, consequently, leaving public assistance. This program assists an average of a4a clients per month this year. WELFARE -To-WORK PROGRAM The Welfare-To-Work Program is intended to create additional job oppurtunities for the hardest to employ welfare redpients in order to facilitate their tmsition into unsubsidized employment and self-sufficiency. This program establishes an opportunity to provide additional assistance to those welfare recipients with the most barriers to employment. The program served 27 clients this year. PROMOTING EDUCATION Throughout the past fiseal year, over $28o,ooo has been spent at regional educational institutions for clients seeking retraining or additional education to assist them in their employment efforts. Dave Lea~ Employment ~ Tra/n/ng D/re~or ECIA provides transportation pbnning and technical assistance to ECIA clients, serving as the Metropolitan planning Organization for the Dubuque urban/zed area and Regional Planning Affiliation 8 in Iowa. The past year brought tremendous change to the transportation staff at ECIA. In December 2001, Steve Williams accepted a position in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the Transportation Director for the Nashua Regional Planuing Commission. Alan Burr accepted a position with the University of Dubuque coordinating the many construction projects. Jake Imnside joined our staff as a Transportation P]unner in July 2ool to fill a newly created position in partnership with the City of Dubuque. Jake's primary responsibility is the development and maintenance of our geographic information system (GIS). This system is a powerful analytical tool and effective means of displaying sometimes- disparate types of data on maps. In March 2002, Chad Ruhberg joined the ECIA team as the Transportation Director. He returns to eastern Iowa after employment in Des Moines and Sioux City, where he gained experience in many facets of transportation planning. The third transportation planner position remains vacant, although we are very near filling the vacancy. Capacity Improvement of US 20 Across the Mississippi River The environmental process has been completed and the design is underway. The $35 million currently secured will pay for the design, the eonstmctiun of a single point urban interchange at the intersection of U8 2o and U8 61/151, and right-of-way acquisition in Iowa and perhaps in Illinois. US 20 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS This project incorporates many improvements though the eom'dor to improve safety and operability of the fadlity. These include many intersection improvements, the exteaqun of University Avenue to U8 2o, and signal coordination through the corridor. The design and enviroamental work continues and some of the improvements are scheduled to begin in late 2002. Iowa 32 - THE NORTHWEST ARTERIAL The Arterial eoustruction was underway in fiscal year '01, and the opening is scheduled for September 2002, thanks to the hard work and cooperation between the Iowa DOT, City of Dubnque, and Dubnque County. IOWA 32 - THE SOUTHWEST ARTERIAL The supplemental environmental assessment eontinnes under the cooperative direction of the jurisdictious. There are many choices to make as the committee works toward the interim design Chad Ruhberg Transportation Director A REGIONAL RESPONSE TO LOCAL NEEDS Each member county is entitled to six council members consisting of four elected oflidals and two appointed persons from the private sector. The council members have the responsibility of governing the ECIA organization. Coubrrr Stephen Lacina private sector, Tipton IA Richard Rex private sector, West Branch IA Richard Schrad City Manager, Tipton IA Jerry Tutskey City Manager, Durant IA Dennis Weih Cedar Coanty Board of Supervisors Don Young Mayor, Tipton IA CLU, ZrON COUNTY Dwaine Albers private sector, DeW'~ IA Gene Latta Coundlman, Comanche IA Paul Reimers private sector, Calamus IA Donald Th/ltgen Mayor, DeW~tt IA Grant Wilke Clinton County Board of Supervisors LaMetta ~ Wyrm Mayor, Clinton IA Cote,mc M. Stephen Brady private sector, Edgewood IA Dave Heiar City Manager, Manchester IA Shirley Helmriehs Delaware County Board of Supervisors Milt Kramer Mayor, Muryzhester IA Steve Huff private sector, Manchester IA Bill Sldnner Delaware County Board of Supervisors DUBUQUE COUNTY Victoria Richter private sector, Dubuque IA Daniel J. Hammel private sector, Dubuque IA Donna Smith Dubuque County Board of Supervisors Ray Stephan Counc~man, Peosta IA Donna Sweeney City Clerk, Holy Cross IA I~chael VanMinigen City Manager, Dubuque IA JACKSON COUNTY Pat Callaban private sector, Maquoketa IA Loras Herrig City Administrator, Bellevue IA lVI,~rian Meyer private sector, Bellevue IA David Kendall Jackson County Board of Supervisors James ?ortz Mayor, Springbrook IA Brian Wagner City Manager, Maquoketa IA 590 Iowa Street PO Box 1595 52004-1595 Suite 200 3999 Pennsylvania Avenue