County to seek housing assessment

RBC — Commissioners gave the go-ahead Monday for a $50,000 grant request to the state to fund a countywide housing assessment.
“Basically, it’s a housing needs assessment for all three entities,” said Meeker Town Administrator Sharon Day. “We’ve included a request for the study to be done in such a way it can be updated annually, and we asked for a lot of data collection, so that we will have a good basis to make decisions on.”
The town of Meeker wrote the grant proposal for the state funding, but the housing assessment would encompass all of Rio Blanco County.
“I think having Meeker and Rangely both in this process is good, as well as the county,” said Forrest Nelson, commission chairman. “We’re all in this together.”
No local matching money is required for the grant.
“It is fully funded,” Day said. “There is no match required from local entities. The funding will come from the state of Colorado.”
As part of the grant, the county would be required to hire a state-approved contractor to conduct the housing assessment.
“Hopefully by spring we will have the results (of the housing assessment),” Day said.
Margie Joy, speaking on behalf of the Community Planning Task Force, said the housing assessment was needed.
“This is a very positive thing,” Joy said. “All of us who have been around the county understand housing is an issue and we’re trying to get a handle on the inventory of housing and the type of housing we need.”