Federal Funds Sought to Aid Neighborhoods

An organization that has helped to clean up rundown apartment units across the city wants to take its campaign to a higher level.

Members of the Neighborhood Improvement Task Force, which includes police, code inspection, fire and health officials, told the City Council on Monday that they are seeking $90,000 a year in federal funds to augment their work.

The task force has applied for the money from the Community Development Block Grant program, members said. The council approves disbursement of such funds after a citizens committee makes recommendations.

The elected officials had agreed to create the task force after some debate about eight months ago. The move involved putting less emphasis on simple code violations, such as cars on lawns, and more on improving specific neighborhoods.

The aim of the task force is to focus the attention of various inspectors on each site visited. An added benefit has been cross-training among departments, Police Capt. Gary Hicken said.

Among the new programs that the task force proposes is training and education for apartment managers. The group also hopes to set up a four-star rating system for apartments and motels as an incentive to property owners.

“One thing we’ve noticed is how naive some apartment managers are about the tenants they select,” said Rick Warsinski, assistant director of development services for the city.