Regional Housing Authority
Becoming a Part of the Rental Assistance Program
UERPC also houses the Regional Housing Authority. This Section 8 Housing Program is the major effort in assisting lower-income families to live in decent, safe and sanitary housing. This program provides assistance for low-income families in the private rental market through the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Becoming a Part of the Rental Assistance Program
Eligibility for a rental voucher is determined by the local Housing Authority based on the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. Income guidelines and rent limitations are available at the local housing authority office in Postville.
The assistance is available for low-income households in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Families making application will be placed on a wait list. Households will pay at least 30% of their monthly adjusted income towards their rent.
Anyone interested or wanting further information should contact the Upper Explorerland Regional Housing Authority at 563-864-7551, Ext. 105.
It is illegal to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. We are an Equal Housing Opportunity Organization.
Applying for Assistance
Applications for assistance are taken in person on MONDAYS at our Postville office: 134 West Greene Street from 8 am to noon and 12:30-3:30 pm.
If you are aged 62 or disabled/handicapped, please call our office for a reasonable accommodation.
Applications will be placed on a waiting list.
If you are interested in more information, please feel free to contact the Housing Authority at:
Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
134 West Greene Street, PO Box 219
Postville, IA 52162-0219
Phone: 563-864-7551
FAX: 563-864-7535
Upper Explorerland Apartment Management
Upper Explorerland has these Rentals now available:
Calmar Apartments
602 Highway 24
1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
$332 - 1 Bedroom
$412 - 2 Bedroom
Call Toll Free: 1-877-474-7551
Housing Inc. Management Services
Equal Housing Opportunity
Postville Apartments
275 East Greene Street
1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
$330/340 - 1 Bedroom
$415/425 - 2 Bedroom
+ No Pets - No Smoking
+ Free water/sewage/garbage
+ Coin-operated laundry
Call: 563-864-7551
Housing Inc. Management Services
Equal Housing Opportunity
For more information contact Bev Krambeer, Becky Zieman or Karine Schager.
Regional Housing Authority Board of Directors
Charles Carroll, McGregor
Michele Elsbernd, Calmar
Jason Passmore, Cresco
Bertha Schuchmann, Arlington
Carolyn Thorsten, Lansing
News Headlines
UERPC February Newsletter
Posted: Tue, February 21, 2012- Ruling in Open Meetings Violations Case
- Impact Award Winner
- IFA to Provide TBRA funding
- 2012 Keep Iowa Beautiful Grants Available
- We Are Seeking Brownfields Sites
- Welcome to the Board!
- Tweet With Us!
- Audits Complete
Ruling in Open Meeting Violations Case
Posted: Wed, February 15, 2012Judge Thomas A. Bitter of the First Judicial District of Iowa made the ruling Feb. 9. The judge also ruled that trial be held on the remaining count which alleges Upper Explorerland "purposefully" prevented the public from having access at a meeting.
The case originated from a Sept. 23, 2010 meeting in which Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission met to consider whether to buy a building in Decorah to alleviate the over-crowding at the Postville offices.
At that meeting, which included members of the public and a representative from the Postville newspaper, a lengthy discussion was held before a motion was made to buy the property in Decorah, which had been determined to be the most viable of all Northeast Iowa possible sites reviewed. The board unanimously agreed to a paper ballot vote. Each member cast ballots and the ballots were counted, showing 10 in favor of buying the property and six opposed.
On Oct. 18, 2010, the plaintiffs obtained an injunction prohibiting the Commission from entering into a contract for the purchase of real property in Decorah. A hearing on that motion was held Oct. 25 and the court issued a ruling stating that the Commission was enjoined from purchasing the property based on the Sept. 23 vote, but that the court could not prohibit the Commission from holding future meetings on the issue.
At a meeting in October 2010, the Commission voted to "table" the issue for 30 days to consider all options for expansion, and on Nov. 30, 2010, the Commission met and voted to purchase the Decorah property.
On Jan. 19, 2011, the plaintiffs filed an amended petition alleging 51 separate violations of Iowa's Open Meetings Laws dating as far back as 1999. The allegations stated that agendas were not posted properly and that Upper Explorerland did not properly publish the names and salaries of the commission members for the years 1999 through 2009.
Judge Bitter's ruling states the Commission properly posted the agendas on its bulletin board, and also that it properly published names and salaries in the Oelwein Daily Register. Plaintiffs had alleged that the Oelwein Register is not a "newspaper of general circulation" because it doesn't serve the entirety of the commission area.
The remaining count involves the Nov. 30, 2010 meeting in which some members of the public were required to stand in the hallway outside the meeting room because the room was not large enough to accommodate all attendees. Judge Bitter decided that a factual determination needs to be made at trial concerning this allegation. "This is a disputed factual issue," the judge wrote in his decision.
A date for the trial, which will be held in Allamakee County, has not been set.
UERPC Awarded "Impact Award"
Posted: Tue, January 31, 2012Keep IA Beautiful Grant Opportunities
Posted: Mon, January 30, 2012Project Eligibility:
- A community beautification project must have one or more of the following as its primary purpose:
- Litter prevention / removal / education / implementation / public awareness
- Recycling education / implementation / public awareness
- Beautification programs - flower, tree and shrub planting, painting & fix-up and general landscaping.
- Public nuisance abatement.
- Grant limits are $5,000 for beautification projects.
- Projects with long-term or continuing benefits are desirable as opposed to one-time projects without lasting benefit. As an example - a short term project might include flower planting while a longer term value project might be tree planting.
- Projects involving youth with a focus on service learning opportunities are most encouraged.
- The following are not eligible for funding:
- Taxes.
- Vehicle registration.
- Legal costs.
- Contingency funds and / or organization operational costs.
- Proposal preparation.
- Motorized equipment costing more than $1,000.
- Contractual project administration.
- Land / building acquisition, leases, easements, etc.
- Speakers, entertainment, refreshments and food.
- Costs for which payment has been or will be received under another federal, state or private financial assistance program.
- Costs incurred before a written agreement between the applicant and KIB has been executed.
- Office furniture, computers, fax machines and other office furnishings and equipment.
- T-shirts and give-a-way items.
- Outdoor furniture (grants are available under the "Build with Bags" program).
- Administrative and general operating costs of the project sponsor.
- An approved community project must be completed within the funding period.
- Photo documentation and media planning are required giving recognition to grant administrators and fund sources.
- Be prepared to undergo an audit regarding expenditures of the grant.
Keep Iowa Beautiful
Contact:
Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
POSTVILLE
134 West Greene Street, PO Box 219
Postville, IA 52162-0219
Phone: 563.864.7551 | Fax: 563.864.7535
DECORAH
325 Washington Street, Suite A
Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: 563.382.6171 | Fax: 563.382.6311
Our Mission:
To promote regional cooperation and meet the planning and economic development needs of local governments.
It is illegal to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. For deaf and hard of hearing, please use Relay Iowa 711.
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