Edition 261
February 2012
ASCOG Offices Closed: ASCOG will be closed Mon., Feb. 20 for President’s Day. Offices will open for business Tue., Feb. 21.
MY PERMIT NOW: The My Permit Now presentation regarding code enforcement, building codes, and building plan reviews will be at 9:30 a.m. Wed., Feb.22 in Bldg. 100 at the Great Plains Technology Center in Lawton. Several have already signed up to attend including representatives of the Oklahoma Builders’ Association and other state officials involved with building codes. If you will be attending, please call Susie in CED so we can reserve a place for you! This is a vitally important issue that affects every community.
REMINDER TO ALL 2009 REAP RECIPIENTS: All funds remaining unspent will be automatically de-obligated on July 1, 2012. Time is getting short...
REMINDER TO COMMUNITIES CONSIDERING SALES TAX RATES, USE TAX OR UTILITY BILL RATES: Although none of these should be the sole purpose for obtaining grants, each one has a significant impact on applications getting funded. The day of getting money without showing an effort to help on the applicant’s part is rapidly coming to an end. Grant sources reward local efforts by giving more points to those who do what they can with their limited resources. For example, REAP rewards the following: 4 points for having a sales tax of 3% or more, 2 points for having a use tax, 8 points for having a combined water and sewer rate of $39 or more for the first 5,000 gallons of water usage. For those on septic systems, a water rate of $34 or more for the first 5,000 replaces the combined rate. These are the same rates OWRB uses for their loans and grants, but the total points awarded are 10 for either category. For CDBG, the combined rate of water and sewer gets 7 points for $45 or more for the first 5,000 gallons and $35 or more for those on water only. CDBG also gives an additional 3 points for those who have increasing block water rates (price per 1,000 gallons increases as the quantity of water and sewer rates increase). – ASCOG CED staff can help you determine rates with minimal impact on those on fixed incomes while maximizing the amount of points you can get for grant applications. Now is the time to be working on it since elections are coming up and some of these issues may need to be on the ballot.
CDBG Applications: Application due dates for Community Revitalization and Water/Wastewater projects are expected to be near May 6. If your community does not have a 51% low to moderate income (LMI) percentage, you will have to do a survey to be eligible. If you need assistance, please contact ASCOG CED staff.
Become an Ombudsman Volunteer: Ms. Ellen Venniro has been an outstanding and dedicated Ombudsman Volunteer since February 1, 2002. She does what it takes to ensure the long-term care residents at her assigned facility are aware of their rights. Ms. Venniro also monitors and looks after residents’ care and quality of life. You can become a volunteer like Ellen! Contact Ruben Sotelo or Vonn Saltzman, ASCOG ombudsman supervisors, for more information.
Senior Day at the STATE Capitol: Senior Day will be Mon., Feb. 27, ‘12. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on the second floor of the capitol rotunda. The program starts at 9:30 a.m. Free box lunch will be provided by ASCOG & Delta Nutrition Project. For additional information, contact Heather Sladek at ASCOG.
VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER CAUCUS: The caucus will be on Feb. 4 in Oklahoma City. Volunteer FF from around the state will address issues concerning training, state mandates and daily operations. February will continue with training for all volunteers and preparing Oklahoma tax credits for the training they received in the year 2011. Contact Perry Brinegar at ASCOG for more info.
ASCOG Closes Drive Thru: ASCOG’s office front at 804 W. Main Street in Duncan has been repaired following the accident this summer. The hole in the front of the building created by the accident became known as the “Drive Thru.” If you are in Duncan, stop by and take a look. The building front really looks terrific and is a great addition to Main Street.
TWO Join ASCOG Staff: Jim Nimmo, Walters, has joined the ASCOG workforce development team and has been assigned to the Workforce Oklahoma Center, Chickasha.
TAMARA BINGHAM, Rush Springs, has joined the ASCOG managed care team as a case manager working with ADvantage members in the Duncan area.
