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April 23, 2010 For more information, contact: Renovations Completed on Owensville Senior Citizen Homes OWENSVILLE— For the most part, 2009 was a year of change and a year of improvements for the Owensville Senior Citizen Homes. The local nonprofit secured a $500,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and invested roughly $26,000 of its own money to install new windows, roofs, showers, furnaces, appliances and cabinets. Legends Bank of Linn and Owensville is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank and helped the local group access the grant. Meramec Regional Planning Commission of St. James prepared the application and served as contract manager and inspector. Without grant funds, the improvements to the 44-units would not have been possible. Because the units are designed to be affordable, rents are below market rates, making it difficult for the volunteer boards to accumulate funds to undertake major renovation of the aging units. Grant funds were used to install central heating and cooling systems, replace roofs, windows, doors, hot water heaters, appliances, renovate bathrooms, install ground fault outlets, smoke detectors, soffit and fascia, concrete the parking lot and replace some kitchen cabinetry. The work was bid out in early 2009, and the local board—chaired by Andrew Michel of Owensville—selected 11 contractors to complete the work, including Matt’s Home Service of Cuba, Sunset Heating and Cooling of Belle, Roy’s Gutters and Home Improvement of Argyle, Aubertin Construction of Fredericktown, Granneman Sales and Service of Hermann, Pioneer Home Center of Owensville, Randy Woemmel of Owensville, Schaefferkoetter Electric of Owensville, Mid-MO Drain Cleaning and Plumbing of Belle, Mid-Missouri Kitchen and Bath of Rolla and Pride Master of St. Charles. Approximately 33 workers were employed with these 11 companies. In December, with most of the work done, MRPC hosted an open house reception and treated the board and tenants to cake and punch. Each tenant was provided a treat bag as a thank you for their patience and cooperation. “The project went pretty smoothly,” said Board President Andrew Michel. “We had a few interruption but we got everything done. Dave Brown and Shirley Landwehr did a good job in coordinating.” Landwehr serves as site manager, and she agreed that everything went well. “The weather cooperated for the most part. All the residents were happy, and the improvements were user friendly.” The group hopes that the energy improvements will save them money on utilities. Dan Minks of USDA Rural Development, Jefferson City office, visited the site during the open house and was pleased with the results. “Residents were appreciative of the efforts, and Shirley did a good job of coordination,” Minks acknowledged. “It helps when you have a board as dedicated as the one we have here. It helps the community.” The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines has been a partner in the renovation of several senior citizen housing complexes in the area. FHLB-DM is a wholesale cooperative bank that provides low-cost short and long-term funding and community lending to more than 1,200 members. It is one of twelve regional banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The FHLB System is the largest supplier of home mortgage credit in the United States. Congress created the national network of privately owned wholesale banks in 1932 to ensure available funding for mortgages; however, it receives no taxpayer funding. The bank devotes 10 percent of its net income each year to affordable housing programs. The Des Moines bank serves commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota. Since 2000, the FHLB-DM has invested in senior citizen homes in Bland, Leasburg, Dixon, Vienna, Cuba and Owensville. Work is now underway, using FHLB funds, in Steelville, St. Clair, Bourbon and Arcadia Valley. |