Community action council closing

Cameron Probert/Columbia Basin Herald<br> The North Columbia Community Action Council closes today.

by Cameron Probert<br
| February 26, 2010 8:00 PM

MOSES LAKE — The North Columbia Community Action Council closes today.

Gil Sparks, an attorney representing the council, said the decision to close came after the state Department of Commerce’s decision to freeze the board’s funds for its weatherization program.

A June complaint about “conflict of interest” issue prompted a state and a federal investigation into the program. The state contracted with the council to administer about $580,000 in federal and state funds designated for use in Grant, Adams and Lincoln counties. The program provides assistance with improving energy efficiency for low-income family homes.

As a result of the process, the council’s board decided to shut down NCCAC and transfer the programs to other agencies, Sparks said.

The state identified two agencies to handle the council’s former contracts with the Department of Commerce, said Diane Klontz, commerce’s managing director. Opportunities and Industrialization Center (OIC) from Yakima is handling the weatherization program for Grant and Adams counties and Rural Resources is handling Lincoln County.

She said both organizations are already operating in their respective counties.

“(OIC is) in the process of looking at real estate … Rural Resources and OIC have been great providers for us,” Klontz said. “The current North Columbia staff are working with the other staffers so there’s a seamless transition and clients are being notified.”

Klontz said the rental assistance programs are being transferred to Grant County Housing Authority.