A grant to fund apartment unit improvements in the Rocky Mountain Manor will proceed to the state level with the Powell City Council's blessing.The council on Monday selected the manor project over a grant request from Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity for land acquisition in the Powell area.

The council could only sponsor one applicant to proceed to the Wyoming Community Development Authority, the agency awarding the grants.

Councilmen said they had a tough time deciding which organization to sponsor for the Community Development Block Grant application.

“I have really struggled with this in the past week,” said Councilman Jim Hillberry.

Mayor Scott Mangold said he asked numerous folks around town which organization they would choose.

“They say, ‘We wouldn't want your job,'” he said.

The manor is seeking $224,000 for new ranges, toilets, showers, refrigerators, kitchen flooring and other renovations in up to 50 of its units (see graphic). The 52-unit complex was built in 1966 and is need of repair, said Wes Metzler, the board president. Most of the manor's residents are over the age of 80, and the improvements would help meet their daily needs, he said.

Replacing old cast-iron tubs with new shower units — with grab bars, a seat and hand-held shower head — is the most urgent need, Metzler said.

If the grant is approved, the manor will have two years to complete the renovations.

Metzler also told the council he empathized with council members. He called Mountain Spirit a qualified organization.

“I do not envy your job, trying to pick,” he said. “It's too bad that we're both here at once.”

Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity, which serves Park County, was seeking a grant for $80,000 to acquire land in Powell. That would allow the organization to build up to four new homes in the Petersen Subdivision for low-income families, to be completed by the end of the summer 2010. The last time the organization built a Powell home was about two years ago.

“Mountain Spirit has been very eager to build something in Powell,” said Kenny Lee, the organization's executive director.

However, land acquisition isn't easy.

“We've been seeking land, and it's very hard to come by, and we have limited funds,” said Kay Dooley, the Mountain Spirit board secretary.

Lee said the group wants to re-ignite the volunteer base in Powell and is pursuing other funding sources so they can leverage their funds to purchase lots in Powell. The group hopes to secure funding and start building this year.

“I really think we'll be able to break ground (on a Powell project) by the end of the summer,” Lee said Wednesday.

He added that the organization is “certainly open” to anyone who may have land available for a Habitat project.

Councilman John Wetzel said he was torn on the issue, and thought the Habitat application may fare better at the state level, based on its amount.

The Wyoming Community Development Authority has about $1 million available for grants statewide. If the state approves the manor project, it amounts to 25 percent of their funds, while the Habitat project would use 8 percent of the available money.

“It may not be funded because it's 25 percent of what the state has available,” Wetzel said. “Sometimes if it's too big a project, it gets tossed out (at the beginning).”

Mangold said he didn't want make a determination based on the amount of the request. He added that he wished one of the projects was sponsored by Park County so the city didn't have to choose between two qualified organizations.

The council favored the manor project partly because of the number of residents served.

“The need is justified, and it will benefit 52 units,” said Councilman Rex Sanders.

The Rocky Mountain Manor has $100,000 available from the Moyer Foundation, contingent on other matching funds. The council encouraged Metzler to attend meetings at the state level, which he said he plans to do.

“I understand this is just one step,” he said. “We aren't guaranteed that we'll get the money once we leave this room.”

Since the council's approval Monday, Metzler has been gathering information on income levels of all the manor's residents. Applications for the Community Block Grant Program are due April 17.