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Attendance
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Harold Brown (Sen. Patrick Dougherty's office), Bernard Bectan (SNDO), Esther Williams, Carmen Long, Diana Green, Demetrius Chapman, Ernestine Isaiah, Sarah Green, Joe P. Roddy, Rich Notbohm, Bob Babione, Dan Scott, George Jones, and Joan Botwinick.
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Treasurer's Report
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Current balance is $1,035.00; $100 of that is committed as a thank you to Lighthouse for its hospitality and services to the Council.
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Lighthouse Community Outreach Center (LCOC)
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Programs are being cut because of funding shortages. Harold Brown from Sen. Dougherty's office
said there is $8 Million available to apply for if grants can be submitted by April 23.
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Neighborhood communications
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A number of groups are meeting to create better communication among residents in the neighborhood
and to encourage participation: an "inreach" program by Churches Committed to Community Concerns (C4);
the Good Neighbor Network by Metropolis; and the block-directory project suggested by Phil Heagney.
Also, there has been a CORO leadership meeting but it only had about 5 people attending. The March 25 CORO session was announced as an opportunity to ask questions of the heads of city-wide programs: Frank Siano (ARCHS), Don Bell (SNDO), and Steve Acree (RHCDA). [After-meeting note: the appearance of the city-wide heads was canceled because so few were expected at the CORO session.] -
Fixx-Up Fund
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The Fixx-Up Fund for FPSE has finally received half of its money, $5,000, from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The total of $10,000 should be spent by December 31, 2002. It has also been awarded $10,000 from the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) but only receives $2,500 each quarter. These funds are for low income home owners in the FPSE neighborhood who may have an emergency repair problem they cannot afford to fix. Income verification and ownership proof are required. Also, each floor must have a smoke detector and each bedroom an openable window (the grant can be used for these two items). For further information contact Joan who is the volunteer coordinator, 727.6237.
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Affordable housing
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George Jones plans to apply to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for a loan to rehab at least one house
and perhaps as many as four.
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McRee Town
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FPSE residents are helping the McRee Town neighborhood in its effort to save about 90 occupied homes in good condition, which the Garden District Commission wants to demolish. The next rally for a Fair Plan in McRee Town will be Saturday, April 5, at 11 a.m., meeting at the corner of Shaw and Tower Grove. The theme of the rally is to remember Martin Luther King, Jr, and his work for the rights of the poor. Bring the whole family for a one-mile walk in the affected area and enjoy free lunch. The Fair Plan in McRee Town calls for saving the good homes instead of demolishing all of the buildings to build higher-income housing that residents cannot afford.
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H&EDCorp
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The housing corporation has appointed Irving Blue as its new Executive Director. He was a city planner in Kansas City. He begins work on April 1 and has a 90-day probation period, George Jones reported.
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Park East
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From general discussion, it was believed that only 3 families who formally lived in the Park East buildings have been able to move back to the rehabbed apartments. The managers reported that 87 percent of applicants from FPSE do not qualify for the rehabbed units, either because of credit issues, earlier tenancy problems, or criminal records.
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Internet resources
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Sue Beckwith from the Brown Bag Technology Collaborative reported on efforts to get high speed internet service into each home within a mile of a youth and family center in the Fifth Ward so that children have computers at home and improve their learning ability. Sue is in the idea stage for a TOP grant application due late in April. She came across the FPSE plans in her research and welcomes FPSE assistance in getting the service set up and possibly expanding from the Fifth Ward program. By agreement, the Council is willing to send a support letter for the grant application, based on the Council's prior decisions and the priorities survey.
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Human services priorities
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Bob reported that ARCHS may be saying that the one and only funding priority in human services
is lead abatement. He indicated he would take up that issue
at the announced CORO meeting in light of the long standing
priorities of family support, stress and violence problems, and mental health as evidenced
by the David Ranken Neighborhood Health Committee focus groups and the priorities
ballot. By agreement of those present, Bob can send a letter asking for a change in
the ARCHS plan if it is focused on lead abatement.
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Community market
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Bob reported on the continuing discussions about a community market and asked about who would be interested in using such a market, either as shoppers or as vendors. He explained that a main theme would be to provide fresh, local produce, but there would be opportunities for booths for crafts and services. Besides being a place for buying and selling, a market could be a place for meeting and visiting with neighbors. Members suggested that possibly interested persons would be Trish Curtis, Sharon Murphy, and Carol Ann Von Eschen.
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Affordable housing resources
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Joan reported on a wonderful resource for finding affordable housing. A database of all currently affordable city and county housing is available at
www.socialserve.com
. The database includes affordable rentals, Section 8 properties, tax credit properties, and units for special housing needs. The service saves people traveling around the neighborhoods looking for apartments. You put in what you need (for example, number of bedrooms, rent amount, and desired location), and all possible apartments will be listed. If complications arise, the toll free number is 877.428.8844.
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April and May plans
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By agreement, the Council will NOT meet in April. Instead, we will participate in the David Ranken Community Health Committee's health fair on April 26 at Adams Community Center. The special arrangements are to celebrate the Fourth Anniversary of the founding of the Community Council. It will be a chance to visit with neighbors, celebrate the history, and, of course, enjoy some good food.
Harriet Patton, who has done community work in Meacham Park may be willing to visit at the May meeting to talk about how organizations in split neighborhoods can work together.
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