FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) reviewed an inspection report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during its meeting on Monday.

For this inspection, done through the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate, units in Friendship Village and North Park were examined. There were only two units to inspect at North Park, and of the 123 units at Friendship Village, 26 units were inspected.

North Park received a 100 out of 100 score with no notes. Friendship Village received a 98 out of 100, which HRA Director Gail Diede said shows that the properties have been managed very well.

“As long as it’s 90 and above, they come back every three years,” she said. “If you get 70 to 80, they’re back next year. Eighty to 90, two years. We’re in the 90 and above, so we won’t see them for three years.”

The few negative notes Diede said they received were regarding the concrete, which Diede said will be fixed soon through the $1.9 million grant they are receiving via the Publicly Owned Housing Program.

In an update to that shared with the HRA, Diede said they held a brief meeting with invited vendors. As a result, Diede said they will have to consider potential changes to the concrete portion of the project.

“The concrete we may end up cutting back on,” she said. “In one of the last meetings, the architect decided that we needed the frost-free barrier, so it’s sono tubes and all of that. The gentleman walked around in the pre-construction meeting, he said you really don’t need to put sono tubes and stuff. He said he could dig the hole and then just pour the concrete, and that would save.”

Commissioner Jerry Edwards asked if that meant it would have to be hand-dug. Diede said no, as the contractor said he had something that could do that work.

In other news:

— The operating budget was approved after no one was at the public hearing for it. Diede said they may have to prepare for higher costs due to potential increases in diesel fuel prices for shipping materials.

— This meeting was the first for Commissioner Wayne Herrman, who has replaced the resigned Ron Kopischke for the remainder of his term.