Landmark program moves CLTC forward, as promised by Calvo-Tenorio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2012
If you live on Chamorro Land Trust land and you don’t have the money to install your utilities, you may be interested in this news release.
Right now residents who don’t have water, wastewater, power, and telephone underground infrastructure have to pay thousands of dollars for this installation.
“This is something most people can’t afford,” Governor Eddie Baza Calvo said. “That’s why one of our campaign promises was to find a way to get water and waste water services to the people.”
And that promise is coming true for many CLTC lessees. The CLTC (under Department of Land Management), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be financing the water, wastewater, power and telephone services of many of its lessees. This follows a final rule by USDA under the Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA). The agreement that makes this happen is in legal review and will be implemented as soon as the review is done.
CLTC will be borrowing the money at a low 2-percent interest rate to secure financing. CLTC commercial license fees are the repayment source, so this program is self-generating. The reason such a financial arrangement is realistic is that CLTC, under this administration, has aggressively gone after money owed to the commission, and is fairly levying its fees.
It is estimated that 3,000 current CLTC lessees are living on land without this infrastructure. One of the main reasons for the slow down of residential CLT leases over the past decade was that the Commission did not want to lease out land without this infrastructure. It’s been the largest point of contention and debate about CLTC properties.
There will not be enough money in the pot to complete all infrastructure needed, however, this is a substantial starting point. The CLTC will work on one subdivision of land at a time. Its work will begin in Yigo so the agency can do its part to protect the northern aquifer from further contamination.
“Now that lessees will have a real and affordable solution to get infrastructure to their properties, there is real likelihood that residential leases can commence in earnest,” Governor Calvo said. It is estimated that there are nearly 1,000 potential lots leftover for lease that need infrastructure.
The Memorandum of Understanding between USDA and CLTC should be ready soon. There are plans already in place to upgrade and maintain infrastructure throughout the northern part of the island.
“This is a step in the right direction toward enhancing affordable housing infrastructure with the CLTC properties,” Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio said. “We thank our affordable housing partners for making this happen.”
Please call Natalie Quinata at 475-9213 or 488-6013 for more information.
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