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Champaign County commissioners hold initial hearing for grants

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By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 5:49 PM Tuesday, March 16, 2010

URBANA — The Champaign County commissioners will likely receive between $70,000 and $75,000 this year to fund projects through the Community Development Block Grant Program.

The commissioners held an initial informational hearing on this year’s program Tuesday, March 16.

The money can be used for projects such as drainage and sanitary sewer improvements, water supply improvements, and street and sidewalk improvements, among others.

Weston Dodds, a planner for the Logan, Union Champaign Regional Planning Commission, said it is too early to say what projects will receive funding this year. He said several local municipalities are presenting proposals, and there will be a second public hearing in late May or early June. The final deadline to submit proposals to the Ohio Department of Development is June 25.

Last year, Dodds said, the county received about $92,000 although about 20 percent of that money went to cover administrative fees.

Projects from last year included demolishing and removing a water tower in Mechanicsburg, installing an elevator at the Champaign County Historical Society to make it more handicap accessible, and installing curb ramps in St. Paris to make streets more handicap accessible. 2008 projects included sidewalk improvements in North Lewisburg and a resurfacing project for Race Street in Mechanicsburg.

Steve Hess, county commissioner, said the board also approved a resolution to renovate the Central Ohio Youth Center in Marysville. The center serves Champaign, Union, Madison and Deleware Counties, and each county must approve the plan before it can proceed.

Officials at the youth center are hoping to receive about $1.4 million in funding from the Ohio Department of Youth Services. The project, which would begin in the spring, would provide upgrades to the heating, air conditioning and sewer systems, as well as upgrades to administrative offices.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.

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