Then Mason explained about $513,000 of $710,000 expected to come from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development this year would be available to help pay for roads, sewers and other projects planned by local governments.
“It’s important,” said Traci Stivers, administrator in Franklin Twp. “If we don’t get it, it won’t get done.”
Last year, the commissioners shifted funds sought by the Franklin Historical Society for the Harding Museum to reconstruction of High Street in South Lebanon.
In so doing, commissioners Dave Young and Tom Grossmann said the road repair would have “broader impact” than if the money was used to fix the museum roof.
In addition to money going to local governments, about 15 percent of the funds have in recent years gone to public service projects.
This year’s proposed funding breakdown gives $75,000 to the county’s Interfaith Hospitality Network, which provides for the homeless; $42,000 to the the county’s Abuse & Rape Crisis Center.
The county plans to keep $90,000 for administration.
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This is expected to leave $513,000 for just under $1 million in requests.
“Most of the money goes toward public projects,” Mason said during the commissioners meeting. “We’ve done them all throughout the county.”
Lebanon requested $277,900 to reconstruct and repave 1.3 miles of Cambridge and Raintree courts, Georgetown Drive and Winding Way.
South Lebanon sought up to $200,000 to reconstruct and complete sidewalk on Lebanon Road.
Franklin Twp. is seeking $160,000 to repair Harriet, Ethel and Russell avenues and Olive and Mentz roads.
Stivers said the township needed the money to resurface as well as repair the base of these roads.
“If you don’t do base repair, it’s like putting a band aid on it,” she said.
Stivers said the township had been seeking the funds for several years.
The roads were last repaved in 2000 and are among 20 that are at least 15 years old, according to Stivers.
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Local governments are falling farther and farther behind on maintenance due to cuts in state and local funding.
“Without grant money, it’s really hard for a rural township to keep up with maintenance,” Stivers said.
Last year, Stivers said she and Mason went door-to-door surveying incomes to demonstrate the neighborhod qualified for the funding, designed benefit low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods.
On the other end of the spectrum, Butlervile asked for $19,145 for new playground equipment, mulch and a basketball court at the village park.
Commissioner Tom Grossmann was absent during the presentation.
Jones and Young told Mason they would review the list and “get back to you with our recommendations.”
Last year, the commissioners made the funding choices in March. In 2015, the decision came in February.
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2017 federal block grant requests in Warren County
Lebanon $277,900 street reconstruction
South Lebanon $200,000 street resurfacing, sidewalk
Franklin Twp. $160,000 street repair
Pleasant Plain $99,000 storm sewers
Morrow $76,650 street reconstruction
Franklin $75,000 storm sewer
Deerfield Twp. $66,000 intersection reconstruction
Harveysburg $55,500 storm sewer
Butlerville $19,145 playground update
Interfaith Hospitality Network $75,000
Abuse & Rape Crisis Center $42,000
Source: Warren County Grants Administration
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