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Administrator Baird concurred with Director Brown ' s concerns . He further pointed out <br /> that the Housing Authority should be a " stand alone" independent agency that is accountable <br /> from the bottom up . He recommended that the Clerk of Court Finance Department stop <br /> conducting the Housing Authority ' s accounting since it is done on a voluntary basis , and is <br /> consuming so much time . <br /> Discussion ensued regarding how this situation historically started, grants and loans given <br /> to the Housing Authority for renovation of the two Gifford apartment complexes (Orangewood <br /> Park and Victory Park), and the amount of time that the Finance Director spends on the <br /> accounting function. <br /> t <br /> The Chairman opened the floor to public comments . <br /> Todd Heckman , newly appointed Chairman of the Indian River Public Housing <br /> Authority, outlined the events that took place as he saw them . He felt the goal of the Housing <br /> Authority should be to become an autonomous entity . He wanted time to explore the issues , and <br /> to allow dialogue between the Housing Authority, United States Department of Agriculture <br /> (USDA), and the County, so a program could be put into place that would suit everyone, not <br /> pulling the plug prematurely by April 1 , 2011 . He believed the problem started when the USDA <br /> required a third party manager be brought in to run daily operations of the Orangewood Park and <br /> Victory Park apartment complexes, because there were issues that were not officially addressed . <br /> Mr. Heckman stated that this needs to be addressed from the County to the Housing Authority, <br /> then to the USDA because the contract is between them . He asked for the opportunity to go <br /> before the Housing Authority Board to outline the management company ' s concerns, the <br /> County ' s concerns, and to discuss possible options . <br /> Chairman Solari wanted to know how long it would take to go through the process to <br /> become an autonomous unit; Mr. Heckman said it could take a week because he would need to <br /> build a financial plan first. <br /> February 15 , 2011 14 <br />