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Google"It's been a really great boost," said Alderwoman Jenny Hunt, who wrote the grant application. "We've been applying for CDBG grants for seven years and I was beginning to question if it was the right thing to do. It costs money to get the engineer's reports."
This time, however, the investment paid off, as did the seven years of experience and some careful research. In the past, the town applied for the grants to help with sewer improvements.
"I think we got smart and we looked at how the points really got applied and where our strengths were," said Hunt. "We did not have the competitive advantage with the sewer grant application."
But Bell Buckle did have that advantage with the water supply -- or disadvantage. The Bell Buckle water system experiences an annual water loss of 31 percent of all water purchased for distribution. This project will serve 2,076 people, of which 1,666, or 80.3 percent are low-to-moderate income -- all statistics the state looks at carefully when determining who gets what money.
A survey of the water system done a couple of years ago exposed serious deficiencies in the town's water supply, problems Bell Buckle has been combating ever since. That report helped Bell Buckle get the grant that will make the difference.
"There were four different things, like the Higgins Road water line and old meters that could be causing bad reads," said Hunt. "We'll be able to get a good start on the lines between Webb School and Nestledown. These were all projects listed as high priority on the water survey done two years ago."
The town has to match the CDBG grant with $57,000, money Hunt said was already budgeted for the project. But just because the grant is dedicated to improving the water infrastructure doesn't mean the town's sewer needs -- such as improvements in the often-flooded Webb basin -- will be ignored. The grant money will free up other funds dedicated to working on the water lines, said Hunt, and then they can be used to address the sewer problems.
Gov. Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber approved the grant.
The grant dollars were provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and were allocated under a procedure authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly. Hunt is looking at a Rural Development grant that could also help with the sewer issues.
"This CDBG grant will pave the way for continued economic progress in Bell Buckle," State Sen. Jim Tracy said. "I congratulate the community leaders for their work in securing the funds, and I look forward to seeing the fruit, including new jobs, of this valuable aid."
"Programs like CDBG make it possible for communities to strengthen their foundations, preparing them for economic growth and job creation they might not otherwise experience," State Rep. Pat Marsh said. "We understand the significance of this grant to Bell Buckle, and we are grateful for it."
The grant was approved following an application by the Town of Bell Buckle and has the support of Mayor Dennis Webb, Tracy and Marsh. U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and U.S. Rep/ Bart Gordon aided in securing the funds.
Allocation of CDBG funds is based on priorities set at local levels where community needs are best known. The CDBG program is administered in Tennessee by the Department of Economic and Community Development.
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"I think we got smart and we looked at how the points really got applied and where our strengths were," said Hunt".
"This project will serve 2,076 people, of which 1,666, or 80.3 percent are low-to-moderate income -- all statistics the state looks at carefully when determining who gets what money".
_____________________________
MY THOUGHTS :
I would definitely have to have a re-look at those stats if I were the State.
80.3 percent are low-to-moderate income in the Bell Buckle area???
I may be wrong but I smell a little burning paper.
Cooking the books?
In your "MY THOUGHTS" note, you aptly said, "I maybe wrong ..." Yes, you may be!
Although Bell Buckle has maintained a very conservative government for years, and has adopted positions with which I disagreed on several occasions; there has never been, and there isn't now, a member of the municipal government which anyone could even suspect of dishonesty. Your innuendo "Cooking the books?" is trite and flimsy. Jenny Hunt would not have had anything to do with the grant application if anyone suggested any falsifying.
Is it beyond your horizon to consider that anything is accomplished honestly? The "little burning paper" is probably in the dumpster from which you glean your suspicions.
bellbucklesnob,
The 80.3% figure for people that are low to moderate income is what I find a hard time accepting as accurate for people in the Bell Buckle area.
Since you seem so knowledgeable perhaps you could enlighten us on how these figures are obtained and what sources are used to document the incomes of these people that are used for statistics towards "points" in Ms. Hunt's own words that "the state looks at carefully when determining who gets what money."
Maybe the accurate information could be quickly found if you could put "the little burning paper" out before it is vanished into thin air?
Again it is not Ms. Hunt's character I question. I do not even know Ms. Hunt. It is the figure of 80.3% I question and how it is obtained and computed. I'm questioning a number not a character.
Now, quickly Bob, run out and put the fire out and retrieve the little burning paper so you can respond. :)
Nice job, Jenny! Great work for the Town.
BTW, I may be wrong, but I believe that the income figures in question are provided by the State, not Bell Buckle.
...and by the U.S. Census Bureau.
This is great news for Bell Buckle.
Jenny Hunt deserves most of the credit for her hard work for the town.
BTW, I may be wrong, but I believe that the income figures in question are provided by the State, not Bell Buckle.
-- Posted by James Anderson on Wed, Nov 4, 2009, at 1:54 PM
How about being for sure and not speculating. You serve on the Board so you should have something better than a guess.
You and Bob should put your heads together and see if you can hear something besides an echo in two caves. hello, hello............hello, hello.........hello, hello....
I'll see what I can find out.
I verified that this data comes from the aforementioned sources, not the Town. Somecommonsense, it's good that you created the opportunity to correct your misconceptions in a public forum, as others may have shared them.
James Anderson,
You are right. A lot of others share the thought.
A lot still do.
James Anderson saying the data comes from the aforementioned sources does not go far with most who share this thought and his word alone does not correct any misconception. Never has.
Actually it is about what they said you would say before you even responded.
So in essence you are saying the State provides the grant form, the data to go on the form, and the money for the grant?
You are correct.
The State provides the form.
A portion of the data is also provided by the State, in this case, the census information that was being questioned. Most of the pertinent data is provided by the Town; water loss, age of infastructure, that sort of thing.
The State also provides the funding for the grant.
And, you are correct again, I think. I believe it is a good thing to actively question the word of an elected official. It should never be taken for granted that they are honest or are telling the truth, myself included. I don't think enough of that healthy political skepticism happens, in general.
So you are saying the State gives you the exact number of 1,666 out of exactly 2,076 people or exactly 80.3 percent in these areas are low-to-moderate income people to plug into their grant form to get money (actually part of my taxes I'm sure) to service these needy people?
I also noticed the following statement in the article which makes me scratch my head even more :
--------------------------------------
....."We'll be able to get a good start on the lines between Webb School and Nestledown. These were all projects listed as high priority on the water survey done two years ago."....
--------------------------------------
My Thoughts:
The Webb School area and The Nestledown Development sure doesn't look like it is inhabited by people that are low to moderate income. The last home that sold out there brought over a million dollars. These are what the report called ""high priority on the water survey done two years ago"" ?????
Another question:
How does taking care of your "people on the hill" fit into your list of priorities? They are still up there whether you and bellbucklesnob choose to turn your heads and ignore them or not. They were "on the hill" and truly a part of Bell Buckle long,long before all these transplants from California and other parts of the country came in and tried to become Bell Buckle.
Why not focus on these "true families" of Bell Buckle and move them a little higher up on that ole "priority list" there James.
Were you and bellbucklesnob originally from Bell Buckle or are you of a number of the transplant statistics?
Yes, the Census figure are provided to us and are not changed.
You bring up a very good point about "The Hill". It is, and should be, a significant aspect of Bell Buckle's planning process. I would encourage you to attend a Planning Commission meeting when it is on the agenda. Your input would be appreciated, I'm sure.
You guessed right; I am a transplant. My family didn't move here until I was six, 32 years ago. I still consider myself a "local", though. Do I deserve to? Who knows. Maybe so, maybe not. It probably depends on who you ask.
Oh, and I can't answer in regards to bellbucklebob's heritage. I don't know who he is, since he uses an anonymous moniker.
80% of the population being considered within the low to moderate income range is surprising to me as well. I would have guessed the percentage to be much higher.