Jackson Free Press

The City of Jackson has been in trouble with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for some time.

Now, the capital city appears to be righting the ship.

This week, the city council voted near unanimously to approve a one-year action plan for $3.6 million for a number of HUD grant programs, including the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants, Emergency Solutions grants and housing for people with HIV/AIDS.

Ward 2 Councilman Melvin Priester Jr. cast the lone no vote, which he calls largely symbolic because the action plan presented to the city council contained no funding provisions from removing dilapidated structures that are eyesores in a number of Jackson neighborhoods.

"I'm frustrated that we are at a point where we have to do an action plan that has no money for demolition of property," Priester told the Jackson Free Press.

At this week's meeting, council members also voted to declare approximately 100 properties menaces to public health, safety and welfare. The declaration will allow the city to address to address lingering issues with problem properties.

The moves come after the city worked was forced to respond to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development monitoring report stating that the city allocated $1.9 million in CDBG money that failed to meet federal guidelines.

The ineligible CDBG projects included $575,532 for small-business development, $200,000 for the Roberts Hotel, $914,420 for the Electric Building and $250,000 for Metro Market Place, according a letter from HUD dated Jan. 31, 2014, and signed by then-Mayor Chokwe Lumumba.

Mayor Tony Yarber has prioritized cleaning up derelict properties and holding property owners accountable to complying with city ordinances by giving the Jackson Police Department authority over building code enforcement.