By Leia Jobe/reporter2@trcle.com
The company hired by Johnson County to administer $500,000 in low-interest loans for the victims of the December 2006 tornado that struck near Rio Vista has backed out because of new state regulations that make it more complicated to distribute the money to victims.
GrantWorks will have to fire half its staff because it has only been able to close one loan since January 2007 because of difficulties caused by the new regulations, said Justin Epker, GrantWorks’ manager of business development.
“It was a very heavy decision for GrantWorks to come to,” Epker said.
The company aggressively objected to the new regulations, but the regulations were implemented anyway and became effective in January 2007, Epker said.
Epker said the new regulations make it so complicated to close a loan that it is practically impossible to deliver the money to the families.
The county faces two choices, Epker said: It can give the money back to the state or try to find a new administrator for it.
“Y’all as a county have been hung out to dry,” tornado victim Chris Boody told the commissioners. “I lost my home in the tornado, and I’ve been waiting for a year. We’ve been patient. What else can I do?”
Boody, a manager at Home Depot, has four children and said he is desperately waiting for the grant money, as are all the other victims.
County Judge Roger Harmon said the commissioners would do everything they could to get the money to the victims.
In other business, the commissioners amended the burn ban enacted Jan. 15 to allow for prescribed burns managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Precincts 1, 2 and 4. The burn ban still applies to the public in all precincts. The burn ban lasts until at least April 14.
Consultants with ARMKO addressed the commissioners about the status of the repair of the roof of the Johnson County Corrections Center in Cleburne. The county will seek bids for the repair job.
The commissioners proclaimed Feb. 1 as National Red Dress Day in recognition of women’s heart health and the week of Feb. 3-9 as Food Check Out Week in recognition of the farming and ranching business that provides food for the county and nation.
Also, the United Way of Johnson County recognized Johnson County employees for their support of and service in UWJC’s 2007 fundraising campaign.
