The Mineola Village Board unanimously approved applications for a total of $610,000 in community block grants for 2014 at last week’s Wednesday night board meeting.
Former Mineola Mayor Bob Hinck, who currently serves as community development coordinator, said in a presentation to the board that the money would be used to aid the village and village homeowners with construction work.
Included was $125,000 in block grants for residential rehabilitation “to improve efficiencies in their residences,” Hinck said.
Hinck said the residential rehab grant would allow individuals to receive up to $15,000 to individuals for home improvements such as a new roof, new boiler new siding or new windows.
“Certainly the residential rehabilitation has benefitted seniors and others in time of need,” said Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss, who praised Hinck for his efforts.
The largest single grant the village Hinck proposed is a $350,000 grant for an emergency energy generator for Mineola Village Hall. He proposed two other funding applications: a $75,000 grant request for code enforcement to monitor illegal housing in the village and $60,000 for playground equipment, benches, a paver path and fencing in the Emory Road Park.
Hinck said residents interested in making applications for residential rehabilitation grants could contact him by letter at Village Hall, specifying their needs.
Last year, Hinck said, the village sought $125,000 for residential but received only $30,000.
The applications, he said, are the first step in a process with no promise of fulfillment.
“This is just scratching the surface and we won’t know anything until November,” Hinck said.
In response to a request from Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira about the source of the funding, Hinck said the community block funds are grants from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development administered through Nassau County Community Development.
“It all depends on the availability of the dollars HUD commits to community development,” Hinck said after the hearing.
Hinck said 98 village residents had received a total of $600,000 in residential rehabilitation grants through the community block grant program.
He said after people submit their letters requesting funds, his office makes recommendations based on those requests and puts them on a list for submission to the county.
“It’s a great amount of satisfaction to be able to help other senior citizens like myself,” Hinck said.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
