City of Beatrice formally accepts housing rehab grant

BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice has officially accepted a $540,000 state grant to help upgrade owner-occupied housing and put in place a structure for administering the grant program.

The city council adopted program guidelines, named the Southeast Nebraska Development District to administer the grant and named a committee to review applications for the money.
City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says the city will first contact those who pre-applied for the assistance, as the city sought the grant.

"We'll start working through the process of contacting those who pre-applied and make sure they are still interested in the grant. We have to verify income levels and inspect houses to see what would qualify. There is a limit of $24,999 that can be spent on each household. All of this has to be completed by May of 2024."

There were roughly fifty pre-applications. If there is not enough interest among that pool, other applicants will be sought.

In other action Monday night, elected officials approved two consulting contracts for compliance with storm water regulations and for a drainage study of the Gage County Industrial Park. The cost of the two contracts totals about $33,750.

An ordinance creating a paving district for an alley near the site of the former Beatrice Community Hospital was approved. Property owners in that area are seeking paving of part of an alley, in between 10th and 11th, and Arthur and Garfield Streets. About 100 feet of the alley is currently paved, and property owners want the remaining 100 feet to be hard-surfaced.