Resolution opens up grant money for Family Health West Rehabilitation

By Kathleen Goddeyne - 

At the Nov. 20 Fruita City Council meeting, a new resolution was passed. Resolution 2012-34 prohibits the use of excessive force in non-violent civil rights demonstrations.

According to City Manager, Clint Kinney, in order to receive a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), we needed to change the wording of the resolution.

The CDBG, which is monitored by the State Department of Local Affairs, requested Fruita’s use-of-force policy.  The policy did not meet the federal requirements associated with the block grants due to the language of the document.

CDBG program works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses.

“These are federal dollars and there are usually lots of strings attached.  You have to jump through certain hoops,” said Kinney. “Nothing will change operationally.”

With the terminology change, Fruita’s own Family Health West will be receiving a $200,000 grant to help rehabilitate their nursing home.

Although the council needed to change the wording, Kinney says we haven’t had trouble with non-violent protesters as “we treat everybody the same.”