Siler City board discusses nonprofit grant process, mobile home park

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SILER CITY — Siler City Commissioners approved modifications to a mobile home park and discussed nonprofit funding at the board’s regular meeting Monday.

Mobile home park modifications

Commissioners approved a set of modifications to the Hampton Village Manufactured Home Park development, most of which involved changing the amount of proposed recreational spaces within the development — including changing the amount of mini-parks from six to four, as well as decreasing the acreage dedicated exclusively to basketball courts, parks, tennis courts and other similar spaces.

Town Planning Director Jack Meadows said instead of having these recreational spaces, the developers would pay a fee in lieu of those facilities, which would go back to the town’s Parks and Recreation department.

“The department recommends those funds go towards the ball field lighting project of field two at Bray Park Sports Complex and implementation of the Bray Park Master Plan,” the plan states.

The total amount of funds the town of Siler City would receive would be around $150,000.

Nonprofit grant funding

Commissioners heard a new policy from town staff regarding requirements to apply for town funding for nonprofits. The policy, presented by Town Manager Roy Lynch and Finance Director Tina Stroupe, would require nonprofits interested in receiving town-funded grants to meet certain criteria. Some of the new requirements include having 501(c)(3) status, providing a board roster with the application, submitting to an annual financial audit and more.

“During the last budget cycle, which was for the fiscal year we are currently in, the board asked town staff something with more criteria standards in order to approving a certain percentage of funding for each agency,” Lynch said.

After submitting an application, each nonprofit seeking funds would be graded on the required criteria to determine whether, and how much, funding would be approved.

“Our top priority is to maximize the benefits of all of our town residents,” Stroupe said. “We want a policy that would require agencies to fund programs that would benefit our residents, rather than just funding the operations of a nonprofit.”

Other business

Siler City also held a public hearing to add clarifying language to its ordinance surrounding shelter homes. Some of this new language would allow shelter homes to prioritize Siler City residents to be first in line for spots in local domestic violence and homeless shelter.

The ordinance would also add certain criteria to allow more individuals into temporary housing, including pregnant teenagers, victims of domestic abuse and recently unemployed individuals evicted from their homes. The new definitions also would allow for temporary houses to enforce rules regarding alcohol and drug possession on their property.

The town voted to continue the public hearing at the next meeting to review the changes proposed Monday evening.

Reporter Taylor Heeden can be reached at theeden@chathamnr.com.