Yuma County Community Development Block Grant update

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Earlier this year, Yuma County Board of Supervisors voted on doing some projects around Yuma County from a grant they got from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

One project was beautifying the area around the canal on Avenues B And C. The second was to help out The Catholic Community Services by approving an additional meeting room and replacing two HVAC units for Catholic Community Services.

The third approved project was for El Comite de Bien Estar for the Las Casitas Apartments for an HVAC replacement.

However, one of the projects is costing more than expected.

"Last time I spoke to Frank, he is looking at a little bit more than $500,000, almost $600,000, just for the construction," said Diana Veloz, the Community Planning Manager for Yuma County.

Veloz says there are additional costs the county is also looking into.

"With the Avenue B and C...we are having cost issues the budget for that is $176,162…So just right now for the final design and the enviromental itself we are looking at using the entire budget of $176,000," Veloz said.

Veloz presented the idea of finding more grants to fund the project located south of the West Main Canal, an area that's been overlooked for many years.

"I think it's time that the county does something because that area we continue to wait for grants, and it's very competative and it's going to be a while till we start doing something," said Martin Porchas, District 1 Supervisor.

One specific section the supervisors are focused on is the area by Bann Mobile Home Park on Fifth Street and Vaughn Avenue. It's an area supervisors issued a slumlord ordinance for earlier this year. 

For District 2 Supervisor Jonathan Lines, he says this change is personal: "As a former resident of Bann Mobile Home Park lot [from] five till I was 11-years-old, I would like to see some effort in fixing."

Porchas added what he would like to see done in the area: "I think that if we start getting some lights, pathways, recreational areas...It will help a lot we need to start to invest in that area."

The supervisors motioned to discuss the next steps and share an update with the project at a later time as there are still many details to iron out.