IRONDALE CONDUCTING INCOME
SURVEY
FOR PROPOSED BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
IRONDALE-Recently, Irondale residents received income surveys from the city
in an effort to determine and document the area's eligibility to apply for a
state Community Development Block Grant to replace the bridge at the entrance
of the city. Residents are asked to complete the survey and return it to the
city of Irondale as quickly as possible.
Only those households within the city limits of Irondale will be surveyed.
Community Development Block Grant funds are available on a competitive basis
annually through the Missouri Department of Economic Development for projects
such as this one, explained Connie Willman, MRPC's planning and development
manager. The state receives the funding from the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development. The city must demonstrate that at least 51 percent of
its residents are of low to moderate income to qualify for state funding. Census
figures show Irondale's population as being 50.5 percent low-to-moderate income.
"We are confident that the city is eligible for grant funding but we really
need the help of the residents to prove it," said Kelly Sink-Blair, Meramec
Regional Planning Commission, who is assisting the city with the application.
If the area qualifies, the application will be prepared and submitted for funding.
The city is seeking funding to replace the bridge on Oak Street. The bridge
is functionally obsolete and severely deteriorated.
The CDBG Program can provide up to $400,000 on bridge, street and drainage projects.
The estimated cost of replacing the structure is $265,000.
The city must survey all residences receiving benefit from the proposed work
and must achieve at least an 80 percent return rate. Of those returning surveys,
at least 51 percent must be low-to-moderate income.
The survey will take about five minutes for residents to complete, according
to Sink-Blair. Residents will be asked their family size, their income range,
whether they own or rent and the make up of the family-for example, whether
it includes elderly or a female head of household. Survey information is confidential.
Residents are encouraged to return the completed survey by March 15.
Persons with specific questions or needing a new survey may contact Karen Benson,
city clerk at (573) 749-3223 or Kelly Sink-Blair at MRPC at (573) 265-2993.