CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Housing Authority recently provided an update on the elevated radon levels found in some of their units set for redevelopment.

They also provided an update on their full-scale assessment of the Housing Authority’s operations, financials and assets.

2 units test positive for elevated radon levels

At the end of April, the Clarksville Housing Authority said that elevated readings of radon had been discovered in some of their units set for redevelopment.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is an invisible radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium or radium, which are radioactive metals, break down in rocks, soil and groundwater.

At Wednesday’s meeting, CHA Executive Director Wanda Allen said that after getting the tests back, she confirmed two units had elevated levels of radon present. She said that mitigation was being done to address the situation.

Allen said CHA put aside $50,000 in capital funds so that as families relocate for redevelopment, they can have their new units tested and evaluated as well.

Full assessment of CHA, forecasting needs over next 5-10 years

Allen also said at Wednesday’s meeting that Nelrod Company will be the firm leading a full assessment of Clarksville Housing Authority operations, financials and assets.

Nelrod Company is a national technical consulting firm that specializes in federal assisted housing programs, as well as energy efficient audits, inspections and ratings for the housing industry.

Allen said throughout selection process, Nelrod offered everything she had in mind for the assessment. “The biggest thing I was looking for was a physical needs assessment, and they were the only company who offered it,” she said.

Allen said the physical needs assessment will let CHA know what the Authority needs over the next 5-10 years. “I’d like to see that so we can plan on capital funds accordingly. The last time we had a physical needs assessment was 2013,” she said. “While we had a comprehensive needs assessment for Lincoln Homes, because we had to do one for redevelopment, we haven’t had one for the rest of the properties.”

The next steps in hiring Nelrod for the assessment is finalizing the contract. The assessment process will then play out across a 90-day period, said Allen.

Revised contract for executive director

The CHA Board of Directors also discussed revising Allen’s contract because, Chairman Calvin Lockett said, she is doing “much more” than she was hired on to do.

The revision of the contract would come with a salary increase, along with additional duties. When asked about those additional duties, CHA attorney Brad Gilmore said the duties will be based on the executive director working and collaborating with everyone involved in the Lincoln Homes redevelopment. This includes all consultants, attorneys and contractors working.

“When it comes to redevelopment duties that are being added to my contract, initially when I first started, I was completely cut out of anything (relating) to redevelopment,” Allen said. “Now, I’m the person that is facilitating the entire team. In facilitating the entire team, what that looks like is, yes, we do have a development consultant, attorneys, we have all these people; I’m rallying the troops to say when, where and how we’re going to get this redevelopment completed.”

Allen said she is also having to step up in certain areas such as the relocation process. “Our relocation specialist is not here on the ground right now,” she said.

“They just got this contract signed, and he probably won’t be here until a few weeks from now. So, what ends up happening is that relocation piece, getting the houses together, coordinating and figuring out who’s going to what unit at that point; until he gets here, that’s my responsibility.”

Process behind executive director hiring process

Lockett said the CHA Board of Directors had been considering paying Dawn Sanders Garrett to lead redevelopment when Allen was hired as executive director. However, Garrett’s contract was not renewed, which meant Allen taking on those responsibilities.

Commissioner Bill Summers said when interviewing applicants for the executive director opening earlier this year, the CHA board had a good idea who had the experience needed to take on redevelopment if needed.

“Anticipating, will this ever swap over or not, because we had prior discussions,” Summers said. “We knew with Wanda, we knew with several others, there was RAD capability there, it was just a matter of activating it if we needed to. Now, we’ve activated that.”

The revised contract was approved 6-1 with Trina Hill voting against.

Closed meeting to discuss ‘pending or potential legal action’

At the end of Wednesday’s meeting, the CHA Board of Commissioners went into closed session, saying it was to discuss pending or potential legal action.

Under Tennessee state law, the only exception to the Sunshine Law (TCA 8-440101-201) is for “present and pending litigation” or litigation that is likely to be filed, in which the body has been or will be named. The body’s attorney can provide a briefing, and members can ask informative questions. No deliberation is allowed – including on the crafting of motions – and no voting is allowed. The body must reconvene to deliberate on its actions or to vote. Violations could nullify actions taken by the board resulting from that meeting.

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