Public input sought on Community Development Block Grant

FERRIS – Residents of the city of Ferris are invited to a public hearing Thursday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at city hall to discuss the city’s 2017 Texas Community Development Contract or Community Development Block Grant.

The goal of a Texas Community Development Block Grant is to develop communities by providing appropriate housing and a suitable living environment.

This also expands into economic opportunities often for persons of low-to-moderate income.

It explains the CDBG entitlement program as providing “annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities and counties to develop viable urban communities.

HUD awards grants to entitlement community grantees to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services.”

Also, on Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. the Ferris Planning and Zoning Commission and city council will conduct public hearings to consider a variety of rezoning requests.

These requests are to rezone four lots from light industrial and warehousing to single family residential.

The location of the rezoning requests are on the east side of N. Church Street and north of Avenue B.

Next month on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m., the Ferris City Council will consider passing an ordinance allowing the issuance of certificates of obligation for an amount not to exceed $3.3-million.

This money will be used to pay contractual obligations for improving and extending the city’s water system and wastewater system as well as the professional services rendered on the project.

“We are selling the bonds to improve the city’s infrastructure,” Ferris Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Scott said.

“So the city will not continue to have water problems. Water lines have to be repaired, sewage lift stations need to be repaired because the city is growing, and there are more homes and businesses coming in – and we have to use the money to repair.”

Scott said engineers were hired to determine the amount needed for the work to be done. He said the project should begin in February and be complete by the spring.