Community Development

Block Grant 2007

The City of Waycross was awarded a $500,000 Public Facility CDBG by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to construct a new facility.  This facility will house three new Early Head Start classes and transfer two existing Head Start classes from the current McDonald Street Center for Concerted Services, Incorporated.  This new construction will also house a McKinney Community Health Center.  Together the programs will serve at least 56 low-moderate income children and 74 low-moderate income elderly clients.  The site for this facility will be the campus of the old Hazzard Hill School. The old school building will be demolished and the new site constructed utilizing a crew from the Georgia Department of Corrections

Click here to view site drawings

 

Summary of CDBG Funds

 

CDBG funds will pay for

the following items:

 

Description

Clearance

$50,562.00
Acquisition of Property $56,750.00

Head Start Center

$365,158.00

Physical Health Center

$15,298.00

Contingencies $12,232.00

TOTAL

$500,000.00

 

Architect

 

RFP’s were sent to known providers of Architectural Services and published in the Waycross Journal Herald.  After evaluation of the respondents.  The Architect selected for this project is local Architect, Richard Sasser.  His website  can be viewed at:  www.richardsasser.com

 

 

Photo from the Award Presentation with the Governor in Savannah, GA September 6, 2007

 

 

The City of Waycross has completed the following tasks and received the following Notices from DCA relating to the CDBG:

   

September 7, 2007

 Received Award of $500,000 Public Facility CDBG for Grant Period 09/07/2007 - 09/06/2009

   October 1, 2007

Executed Award Packet Sent back to DCA to Accept   CDBG Award

 October 15, 2007

Public Hearing and Start-up meeting with DCA
 

 October 24, 2007

Met with Southeast Georgia RDC to discuss CDBG
 

November 2, 2007

Met with Hazzard Hill CDC to discuss CDBG
 

 November 2, 2007

Mailed letters accepting Special Conditions 1 & 2 on the CDBG executed by the Mayor and City Manger

November 15, 2007

 Billed $780.00 from Southeast Georgia RDC for assistance in administration of the CDBG

November 15, 2007

Received Correspondence from DCA - Adjustment Notice advising Special Condition 1 for Continued Use of the Facility has been cleared on the grant

November 19, 2007

Concurrent Notice - Published Notice of No Significant Impact on the Environment and Notice of Request for Release of Funds in the Waycross Journal Herald

November 20, 2007

Contract executed to confirm Richard Sasser as Architect for the CDBG

December 10, 2007

Received floor plans from Architect Richard Sasser and reviewed them with the City Manager, Mr. Sasser, and Mrs. Jackson of Hazzard Hill CDC

December 10, 2007

Mailed a copy of the Concurrent Notice, Environmental Documentation, and Request for Release of Funds to DCA

December 12, 2007

 Met with Concerted Services Incorporated to review floor plans submitted by Architect Richard Sasser

December 12, 2007

Billed $156.00 by Southeast Georgia RDC for assistance in administration of the CDBG

December 12, 2007

Mailed floor plans prepared by Architect Richard Sasser to DCA for review and approval

December 14, 2007

Received Correspondence from DCA- Determination of No Conflict of Interest regarding Commissioner Simmons living or owning property in the Hazzard Hill Area

January 7, 2008

Received Correspondence from DCA- Adjustment Notice advising Special Condition 2 requiring submission of the floor plans prior to final drawing for review and approval has been cleared

January 7, 2008

Received Correspondence from DCA- Environmental Review general condition for this grant is now cleared and funds are released as of December 28, 2007.

January 14, 2008

Drawdown Request 1-sent to DCA for Property Acquisition, the request was funded on January 25th.

January 25, 2008

Property Acquisition-the City of Waycross purchased the property located at 401 Hazzard Street from Walter McDaniel for $50,000.00.  The deed has been filed with the Clerk of Courts.
February 5, 2008 Requested written quotes from local Surveyors to conduct a full Land Survey of the property located at 401 Hazzard Street.  Companies were asked to submit the quote by February 8, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. 
February 5, 2008 Received written proposal for service from R. L. Cheeseman and Associates to conduct the land survey.
February 8, 2008 2nd request for quotes to conduct a full survey of the Hazzard Hill property.  Companies were requested to submit all quotes in writing by February 12, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. 
February 12, 2008 Submitted Quarterly Report 1 online to DCA
February 13, 2008 Verified with Purchasing that no additional quotes were submitted for the Land Survey of Hazzard Street property, and requested land survey from R.L. Cheesman and Associates.
February 13, 2008 Received notification that DCA would be monitoring Citizen Participation, Fair Housing, Environmental, and Procurement on the CDBG within the next 3 weeks. 
February 29, 2008 Drawdown Request 2 – sent to DCA for Land Survey of Property. The requst was funded on March 17, 2008.
March 3, 2008 Quarterly Report 1 – mailed to DCA for reporting period September 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007.
March 6, 2008 Monitoring –DCA Regional Representative Robert Compton monitored records and procedures conducted by the City for the CDBG since the grant award in the following areas:  Citizen Participation, Fair Housing, Environmental, and Procurement.  All activities monitored were found to be conducted and recorded in the appropriate manner.
March 18, 2008 Received the Land Survey from R.L. Cheeseman Land Surveying, Inc.  Reviewed the Land Survey with the City Manager, Fire Marshal, and Engineering and determined our options after seeing there is an active sewer line that dissects the property.  Solution determined:  change the footprint of the building to a different location on the property.
March 20, 2008 Payment made to R.L. Cheeseman Land Surveying, Inc. for Land Survey- $3,600.00.
March 24, 2008 Spoke with EPD related to upcoming Asbestos Abatement and obtained a list of all agencies in our Region who are licensed contractors. EPD reviewed the Environmental Report and provided information on the necessary step
March 25, 2008 Revitalization Area Strategy annual update and request to renew submitted to DCA.
April 8, 2008 Received 3 proposed modifications to the new facility footprint from the Architect and reviewed them with the City Manager and Community Improvement Director.  Site plan C was chosen.
April 9, 2008 Spoke with Robert Compton and Steed Robinson with DCA regarding the changes to the footprint of the building.  The new site plan was sent to DCA and they advised the change is appropriate.  The Architect was notified to begin engineering studies to complete final plans with this drawing
April 15, 2008 Request for Proposals – Asbestos Abatement published in Waycross Journal Herald 3 days under Public Notices (published April 15th, 16th, 17th).  The ad will run again May 12th, 13th, and 14th consecutively. 
April 23, 2008 Began site visits with companies interested in the Asbestos Abatement project.  These visits will continue through May 14th. 
   
   

 

Special Thank You

 

The City of Waycross extends a special thank you to the Hazzard Hill-Branch CDC for their support in this and previous grant application processes relating to Revitalization of the Hazzard Hill Area.  The City of Waycross will continue to work with the group in the remaining stages of construction and welcomes the CDC’s input in the naming and façade of the new building

 

Upcoming  Activities:

Asbestos Removal
Soil Testing
Engineering Study
Pre-Construction Conference
Demolition and Removal of materials
Construction
Naming of the Building
 

 

Other information:

Please note although two or three classrooms will be moved from the McDonald Street building the McDonald Street Headstart Facility is NOT closing.   The new facility in the Hazzard Hill area will serve as an expansion of the current program. 

 

The City of Waycross is still considering ways to preserve the history of the Hazzard Hill School and we encourage the public to provide suggestions for ways to do this.  We will be saving some of the bricks from the old school for use in the façade of the exterior to the new building, and we are considering the dedication of each classroom to a former teacher, administrator, or worker at the Hazzard Hill School.  There are 5 classrooms to be named, and we are asking the community to submit suggestions for this.  The Hazzard Hill CDC will be asked to help us determine the final five for recognition.

 

 

Questions or Comments about the content on this page can be sent via email to Latasha Josey, Grant Coordinator at ljosey@waycrossga.com or Jonathan Lynn, Community Improvement Director at jlynn@waycrossga.com.

 

Updates to this page will occur monthly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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