Photo by George Lauby One of the 150 small, 1960s-era homes scattered around North Platte. This is 1305 N. Poplar.

The North Platte Housing Authority Board of Directors Monday voted not to accept $588,000 in stimulus funds for various projects.

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The Housing Authority was granted the money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, an unprecedented effort to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs, and address long-neglected infrastructure.

The Housing Authority was one of 3,000 ARRA projects that encompass all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, and was funded by the act.

The ARRA funds awarded to the Housing Authority was the fourth largest stimulus package awarded in Nebraska.

Ed Rieker, board president, said the board rejected the money because the authority already has a half-million dollars in their account, plenty to make any repairs or upgrades necessary in their units.

Rieker said two board members opposed spending the money just because it was there to spend. He said another board member opposed the projects proposed by Deb Morgan, executive director.

Morgan said she was “very disappointed in the board’s decision.”

Morgan said the authority planned to use the funds to improve the infrastructure around the homes, including sidewalks and grass. There was also plans to put security cameras at Autumn Park with the recent increasing crime there.

As part of the agreement to accept the ARRA funds, all contractors and workers hired to make the improvements had to hired locally.

Morgan said the money would have provided work for local contractors.

Voting to reject the funds were board members Rieker, Dee May and Glenn Johnson. Savannah Sellers abstained.

Chris Holley, a maintanence man for Autumn Parks, said he was in “utter disbelief” when he heard of the board’s decision.

“Why would we not put more than a half-million dollars to work for our tenants and our community,” Holley said. He said he talked to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and learned the money was already allocated and would not go back to the treasury.

“They said it would go to a community who wanted it,” Holley said. “I think it’s irresponsible what the board did. I hope they can discuss it again and re-vote on it.”

The North Platte Housing Authority is composed of about 150 scattered site houses throughout North Platte. Most are one or two bedroom although a few have three bedrooms. They were built in the 1960s through a HUD project. There are another 100 units in Autumn Park apartments.

There has been friction on the board for some time, according to insiders.

Another board member, Dave Harrold, recently resigned from the board.

The Housing Authority board has called a special meeting for Thursday, at 9 a.m., in the Blue Flame Room at the Northwestern Energy building, 215 East 5th Street. The agenda items are listed as unfinished business to update policies and by-laws.