Grant Would Help With Needed Repairs

The $500,000 Community Development Block Grant would establish the city an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program. North Towne residents, subject to income requirements, would apply for the loans to fix anything from a leaking roof to structural problems, according to information disclosed during the city council's work session.

The city would loan residents money and require the homeowners to pay 3 to 7 percent, depending on income, as a down payment of sorts for the work. The debt would then be forgiven over the term of the loan.

The Cartersville city council voted to approve the application for the grant. Staffers say if the city gets the grant, it would contract the administration of the program.

The move is in line with the city's plan to revitalize the neighborhood and part of wider urban redevelopment plan.

The council also heard a presentation from Georgia Department of Transportation representatives, who are creating interpretive signage for the city's Leake site trail now under construction. In addition to the signage, GDOT is creating a digital archive of artifacts found during the 2004 to 2006 excavation of the Native American archaeological site near Highways 61 and 113.

The council approved all the other items on its agenda — one contract for the Pettit Creek trail, which also is under construction; and a slew of stormwater channel clearing and upgrade projects, and Water Department modifications and repairs.