GALVESTON — The city council voted unanimously on Thursday to hire Massachusetts-based Camp, Dresser and McKee to manage the federally funded rebuilding program for island property owners who need help fixing Hurricane Ike damage.
Company officials will begin screening applicants immediately, although they do not expect any construction work to start before spring.
Although anyone can apply for the repair assistance, they city will first help property owners who meet the federal low- to moderate-income guidelines.
If the city has money left over, it will assist other homeowners who need help, Sterling Patrick, director of the city’s grants and housing department, said.
The city has $160 million in federal Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds allocated for housing related projects.
Based on a spending plan approved by the council earlier this year, $104 million will go to repair or rebuild owner-occupied houses.
City officials estimated the money would pay for work on 1,180 houses. The spending plan allocated another $7 million for repairs to 280 rental properties.
Camp, Dresser and McKee will hire 20 case managers to help process applications from homeowners, associate Chris Canonico said.
The city has collected at least 100 completed applications already, and company officials have started working with Galveston’s social service agencies to identify other potential applicants, Canonico said.
Canonico promised council members the company would try to hire as many case managers from the local work force as possible.
Managers will be hired for at least two years and will be paid between $28,000 and $40,000 a year, depending on experience, with full benefits.
The company also will recommend the construction companies that earn contracts for repair work hire local subcontractors.
Construction companies without local crews will not fare well in the bid evaluation process, Canonico said.
As many as 40 construction projects will be grouped together and put out for bid.
Homeowners will not be able to choose which contractor they work with, but they will be able to customize the work if they have the money to pay for upgrades.
Property owners whose houses need to be demolished and rebuilt will be allowed to choose the design and configuration for their new home, as long as they stay within a set square footage cost.
Canonico estimated about 30 large construction companies would end up doing all the work.
Camp, Dresser and McKee will earn up to $16.5 million to manage the construction work.
The company also will conduct a housing market study and develop new infill development standards for the city.
Federal guidelines require all of the work be completed within two years.
