Less federal funds will be spent in the Village of Lake Orion as a result of the 2000 census.
Council members learned Oct. 14 that their 2004 Community Development Block Grant allocation will be $9,709, a reduction of $4,233 from previous years.
An area of the village that was previously eligible for funding (south of Flint and east of M-24) will no longer benefit from those monies.
The only area still eligible is north of Flint and east of M-24. CDBG funds are used to help people with low to moderate incomes.
According to Kerry Rieth, Manager of the Department of Community & Economic Development, the formula (involving a ratio of population and concentration of people with low/moderate income) changed.
“I can’t understand why it didn’t include the area where our seniors are — Slater and Atwater,” councilman Doug Dendel said.
“I hollered about that a year ago; it isn’t right. But this is what it is. The feds make the rules and we have to play by their rules,” LO Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel said.
Several successful programs that help seniors are available through Oakland County — Meals on Wheels, Home Chores — that’s over and above CDBG funding, according to Rieth.
“I have tried to get a list of seniors who need these services from the senior center, but I haven’t received any,” Van Tassel added.
Examples of projects that can be done in eligible areas include beautification such as planting trees, sidewalk repair, storm water drainage improvements.
Funds from the 2002 ($2,471) and 2003 ($13,942) allocation for the village’s area that is no longer eligible that haven’t been spent and designated will need to be reprogrammed.
The village has available to it a total of $26,122. Of that amount, $2,200 has already been allocated to HAVEN and Van Tassel expects it will ask again for part of the CDBG funds.
Parks had expected to receive $4,813 in funds for 2002 and 2003 but now won’t because there are no village parks in the eligible area.
Council members decided to submit suggestions at the next meeting as to where the CDBG funds should be allocated.