MARIETTA — A plan to provide additional low-cost apartments for senior citizens in Washington County is in its early planning stages, Washington County Commissioners were told Thursday.

Flite Freimann, director of Washington County Department of Job and Family Services, said his plan requires funding through grants and tax incentives from federal and state agencies. In order to even be considered for those funds, Freimann said the county must have land designated to build low-cost, ranch-style apartments for the seniors. Freimann said the 65 acres surrounding the County Home on County House Lane would be well-suited for the new construction.

“The new residences could potentially share some of the community areas with the County Home,” he said.

Freimann said he plans for JFS to lease the land from the county on a 99-year note. The lease would have exceptions in case the funding for the project falls through, though. Freimann said the lease would cost JFS $10 per year, for a grand total of $990. He said there would be a clause in the lease that allows the commissioners to pull out of the lease if the entire payment isn’t made by Sept. 1. Freimann said this would give him time to ensure the funding is in place for the project before locking the county into the lease.

He said a very early estimate for the cost of the project is $5 million. He said he hopes the planned 84 units that will be purchased with the funds will give seniors more options for affordable living.

“There are some facilities that try and focus on affordable housing in the area,” he said.

But Freimann said the planned rent at the new facility would be lower.

The commissioners agreed to the project in theory, but some wording on the proposal needed to be changed before they would agree with the lease. In the original proposal, Freimann listed the site as 70 acres, not taking the five acres of the County Home, pond and other structures on the land into consideration. Freimann said the changes would be made and presented to the commissioners next Thursday at their weekly meeting.

Also on Thursday, Freimann said those who receive SNAP benefits in the county will be getting a portion of their March payment on Feb. 22. He said due to January’s government shutdown, the county doled out February’s allotment during the first month of the year in case the shutdown lasted longer than it did. He said the early payment will help people who couldn’t stretch their benefits through this period. But he did say the proactive payments will soon be a thing of the past.

“Everything will be back to normal on April 1,” he said.

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Dates to Remember

* Monday: Courthouse closed for Presidents’ Day

* 10 a.m. Wednesday: Finance Committee meeting

* Noon March 4: Joint Solid Waste Committee meeting at Lori’s in Caldwell

Source: Rick Peoples, commission clerk