Towns compete for block grants

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With local government money drying up, communities desperately competed for block grants Tuesday evening.

The money was a month late, delayed by the state’s budget battles. But at least it came through.
"There may not be a block grant program" next year, said Dave Steiner, director of the Wood
County Planning Commission, which administers the grants.
And though there was money this year, it fell far short of the requests from local communities.
Ten applications were filed for a total of $434,800 – much more than the $265,500 available.
Village officials pleaded their cases, trying to convince the county planning commission that they were
the most worthy of funding. In the end, six came out as winners: Bradner, Weston, Portage, Northwood,
Wood County Health Department and Northwestern Water and Sewer District.
The county commissioners will review the recommendations and make a final decision about the grant
recipients on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The planning commission struggled with the same questions it does every year when it comes time to divvy
up the grants. What is more important – sidewalks for kids walking to school, ADA accessible town halls,
or sewer repairs?
"That’s always a dilemma. We’d like to fund a lot more than we have money for," said Richard
Kohring, of the planning commission.
After much discussion, the members decided to fund the following:
• Bradner – $52,000 for replacement of about 624 feet of asbestos cement waterline with ductile iron. The
project also includes replacement of seven service lines, one hydrant, one valve and relocation of an
existing hydrant. The village is putting $15,500 toward the project.
Jim Smith, of the Bradner board of public affairs, explained the great need to replace the leaking
waterline. "We just can’t leave it to continue to leak," he said.
• Weston ¬?- $29,500 to replace an existing storm sewer with a larger one along Oak and Ash streets. The
village is putting $4,300 toward the project.
Council President Mark Sheffer said flooding in the area affects about 16 homes. "We feel this is a
worthy project," he said.
• Portage – $55,700 to resurface East Walnut Street between Ohio 25 and Second Street. The project will
include replacement of two catch basins, curbs and two curb ramps.
Mayor Mark Wolford explained that the unintentional "speed bump" in the road has worsened
because of all the traffic on this road due to the stop light being removed on Route 25. He also said
Portage has no matching funds to put into the project.
• Northwood – $50,300 for resurfacing about 1,100 feet of road, removing about 1,240 feet of existing
storm sewer and replacing it with 1,300 feet of larger storm sewer, and installing 18 storm sewer taps
to parcels on the south side of Florence Avenue and both sides of Sharon Drive. The city is putting
$121,750 toward the project, and Toledo is chipping in $9,350.
"Your dollars are going to go a long way," Dave Kuhn, an engineer with Feller, Finch and
Associates, said of the project.
• Northwestern Water and Sewer District – $53,000 for replacement of sanitary sewer laterals for low and
moderate income households in identified problem areas within Wood County.
The money would be used as seed money to help people in Millbury, Northwood and Hoytville, where the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency is requiring changes to keep storm water out of sanitary sewer lines,
according to Jerry Greiner, executive director of the district.
• Wood County Health Department – $25,000 for installation of sanitary sewer taps for Wood County
residents located in critical sewage areas that qualify as low or moderate income.
"Most homeowners are struggling with their finances," and cannot afford required sewer taps,
said Jacque Varty, sanitarian with the Wood County Health Department. This money would be used as
"last chance money" to help families who otherwise would be taken to court for not tapping in,
he said.
Those not making the cut for grants were:
• Custar – $60,000 for resurfacing Custar Road from the CSX railroad track north to Ohio 281.
• Hoytville – $19,200 for installation of 400 feet of sidewalk from intersection of South Maple Street
and South Main Street to the last home on the east side of South Main Street.
• North Baltimore – $40,000 for installation of ADA compliant curb ramp and automatic door operators at
the municipal building.
• Risingsun – $29,200 to replace concrete walks along portions of the north and south side of Main
Street.

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