Supervisors approve housing resolutions

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved new housing resolutions at its regular meeting Monday morning.

Acting as the Yuma County Housing Board, four supervisors and Maria Ceniceros approved housing measures affecting the Housing Department's voucher program, public housing agency's annual plan and the family self-sufficiency program action plan.

Supervisor Casey Prochaska did not attend the meeting.

As for the presence of Ceniceros on the board, the U.S. Housing Act requires a governing body to appoint at least one person who is directly assisted by the housing agency to serve on the board. Ceniceros was reappointed in January for a one-year term that will expire in February 2013.

The board also approved amendments to the county's personnel rules, ending months of collecting surveys and feedback from county employees.

“I just want to congratulate all the employees who took part in this,” said County Administrator Robert Pickels, adding that the process might become a model for the county since this was such a success.

In other board news, Amberly's Place executive director Diane Umphress thanked the board for making it easier for victims to report abuse.

“I want to thank you for what you've done because you're not going to have one of these victims come here and stand before the board and thank you for what you do. So I thank you on their behalf ... for caring about them and making it easier for them to report and come forward and helping put a stop to the cycle of abuse.”

The board's next meeting will be Feb. 22.