NMHC considers other sub-recipient for Koblerville gym

Northern Marianas Housing Corp. deputy director Jeannie Mafnas informed the NMHC board of directors yesterday that they are considering sub-recipients for the Koblerville gym if the Public School System does not respond to NMHC’s calls as of yesterday.

According to Mafnas, the last day for Education Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan to respond was yesterday. Mafnas told board members that Sablan has not responded to Mafnas’ emails since NMHC gave PSS a 30-day extension from Nov. 26, 2014, to Dec. 26, 2014.

NMHC corporate director Jesse Palacios then issued another email to Sablan but he has also yet to get a response.

Mafnas told board members that she sent an email to Sablan yesterday and is still awaiting a response.

“I discussed with Palacios what our next plan of action is and I guess we may just ask and send out an official letter to her. Assuming that PSS doesn’t want to be a part of the project anymore, then we’ll have to identify a new sub-recipient immediately,” Mafnas said.

She cited three possible sub-recipients, two of whom she has been in contact with and one of whom she has heard of through newspapers.

Two of the interested sub-recipients are the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs while the one she heard about through the newspapers is the Northern Marianas Sports Association.

It was earlier reported that DCCA is fully aware that it will shoulder all maintenance and operation costs if it takes responsibility for the gym. MISO was also fully aware of that.

NMHC board member Ignacio Perez said that if PSS backs out, it is time to look at other sub-recipients.

Back in 2011, NMHC bought three lots equaling 60,000 square miles in Koblerville for $1.17 million, using Community Development Block Grant funds, upon which the gym would be built.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had told NMHC that the CNMI has to pay the money back, according to Mafnas.

NMHC board member Diego Songao told board members that the committee reviewing applications should do a thorough investigation so that it does not happen again.

One other board member is disappointed that PSS has gone to this extent of backing out from the project.

“We gave them a lot of leverage and we’ve supported all the needs, so the next time around we have to start giving more thought to those more interested in the program,” he said.

Songao urged the corporation to be more careful in reviewing applications so that NMHC would not be stuck in such a big hole.