Peoria Housing Authority Observer Report

​  The Board of Commissioners met for regular monthly meeting with a quorum present.  Absent were Commissioners Alma Brown and Kim Furness.  There were no community comments presented. New receptionist, Tenora, was introduced and welcomed.  Current employee, Ernest Jackson, was promoted in the accounting department. There were no FSS graduates this month, but anticipate one in December.
 Jackie Newman, Chief Executive Officer, reported on recent program she attended on “Choice Neighborhood” program.  She sees this as an opportunity to begin positioning PHA and partners to pursue grant funding available for Housing Authorities with distressed properties, such as Harrison.  The two-year grant would need to involve city planning, as well as other partners.  A second two-year grant could be applied for, as well as other funding. 

• Ms. Newman was enthusiastic regarding the recent ground breaking for Providence Point housing development that replaces former Taft housing.  She recalled that PHA had been talking about this since 2010 and the historic significance of getting project to this point; efforts resumed over the past three years to get to this point. 
  
• She thanked the Board for their support and encouraged them to keep momentum going to upgrade older housing stock, such as Harrison. 
  
• Melissa Huffstetdler reminded the Board that PHA was seeking third party investor for RiverWest recapitalization, as this property is twenty years old.

  Reports were approved by consent agenda.  Resolutions were passed to award contract for employee health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield with one percent increase; approved proposed 2022 utility allowance schedule for housing choice voucher program; and approve proposed 2022 utility allowance schedule for public housing, which is required to be in compliance with HUD regulations.
  There was no update on CEO candidate search.  Ms. Newman reminded the Board of the importance of employee training in available grants and other programs to position PHA for future success.
  The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners of PHA will be December 6, 2021.  Meeting schedule and agenda available at www.peoriahousing.org.
Connie Romanus, Observer