Published: July 01, 2009 10:04 pm      

DHA puts locals to work with stimulus money

DANVILLE — Cement finisher John Lisick worked away in the cooler than normal July weather laying out where a new sidewalk will be at Fair Oaks on Wednesday morning.

In his 24 years in the concrete business, work has never been this slow.

“I’ve never seen it this bad,” Lisick said.

He and the other workers, who are single, are thankful for the job. Their last bigger job ended in April.

“It was a Godsend. It puts five of us to work,” he said Wednesday of the Danville Housing Authority job. “It helps us out and it makes it nicer out here.”

D&D Construction of Danville was the winning bidder for the work that is not to exceed $80,000.

They’ll be replacing broken-up sidewalks and doing other concrete repair work for the Danville Housing Authority for about the next four weeks.

The DHA has received more than $1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds, or stimulus money.

Lisick said they hoped the stimulus money would result in more jobs, but they were leery.

In addition to the stimulus money paying for the concrete work, DHA officials also are looking to rehabilitate efficiencies into larger, one-bedroom apartments at Mer Che Manor, 723 N. Oak St., and demolish the old administration building at Carver Park with the federal stimulus funding.

Other possible projects include: additional roof repairs at Mer Che Manor and Fair Oaks, road repairs in Fair Oaks, a second elevator at Churchill Towers, 101 E. Seminary St.; trying air conditioning at some sample family buildings; water main replacements; and showers at Madison Court.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, public housing authorities must obligate 100 percent of their ARRA capital fund grant amounts within one year and must expend the funding within three years.

Randy Kobel, director of development and facilities for the DHA, said the authority is glad to put some people to work who had not been working.

He said some of the sidewalks being replaced are at least 30 years old.

“They were pretty deteriorated and uneven sidewalks,” Kobel said.

“We’re doing our best and spending money,” Kobel said of the federal money.

Another worker at Fair Oaks on Wednesday also thanked the DHA for a job.

Curtis McCray, with A&T Construction of Danville, is working on weather stripping.

“I grew up out here,” McCray said, adding that he appreciates “anybody that keeps somebody working.”