Board opens door for UCAP program

The Lyon County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a resolution for United Community Action Program to operate the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) for the next two years. The program has been in operation for many years and runs on a two-year cycle.
The grant is $919,000 for two years.
“It is a program to help eligible households get caught up on things like rent, utilities, etc. to prevent homelessness, and also to help people that can’t avoid eviction help move into safe housing,” said Angela Larson, Family Services Director with UCAP.
UCAP operates the program in a 13-county area in southwest Minnesota. UCAP needs permission from each county to operate the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program grant.
Eligibility guidelines are 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines based on the person’s household family size. There is also a local advisory committee that helps determine the parameters of the program.

In other board news:
• The board approved the City of Cottonwood law enforcement contract for 2022-2024. The rate increases followed those approved by the board on June 1, 2021 including a 1.5 percent increase in 2022, 1.5 percent in 2023 and 2 percent in 2024.
• The board approved a joint powers agreement for joint ditch 20A with Murray County for financing the cost of improvements and repairs. Landowners in Lyon County will have a share of $268,820.03 to be paid with interest over 15 years starting in 2022. Landowners do have the ability to prepay full or part.
• Lyon County Auditor/Treasurer E.J. Moberg gave the board an update on redistricting. The census numbers have not been released, so the county cannot make any changes at this time.
“The biggest thing is how the city (Marshall) comes in with their wards,” county administrator Loren Stomberg said.
The redistricting deadline for the county is April 26, 2022.
• The board approved a motion to authorize the auditor/treasurer to use Ehlers to provide advisory services relating to the county’s prospective use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies that have been awarded.
• The board discussed two bids for the uninterrupted power supply battery replacement for the jail controls. The low quote was from EASTON UPS Service for $35,045. The board tabled the discussion until the next meeting so more information on the life of the battery and replacement schedule could be obtained.