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County holds public hearing on 2025 CDBG applications; INHS urges faster environmental review for septic replacement work
Summary
Tompkins County held a public hearing on Sept. 2 to solicit input on 2025 CDBG applications, including a $50,000 planning request and proposals for well and septic replacements.
Tompkins County opened a public hearing Sept. 2 on proposed 2025 New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications, including a planning request and potential projects to replace wells and septic systems.
Planning and sustainability staff explained that one proposal requests $50,000 in HUD CDBG funds through the New York State Office of Community Renewal to update the county housing strategy that expires this year. The planning project, administration said, would support future CDBG applications for homeowner rehabilitation, septic replacement, mobile home replacement and other CDBG‑eligible programs.
Delia Yarrow, who identified herself as working at Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS), told the legislature that INHS is coordinating with the county on a 2025 application for well and septic replacement and that recent changes in state Department of Environmental Conservation environmental review rules have delayed projects that require ground disturbance. Yarrow said her team "think[s] we have a path forward to begin that environmental review process earlier so that hopefully if we are awarded the funding, folks will be able to get their septics replaced on a slightly tighter time frame than we've been able to do with this new change in regs." She said INHS is administering a current county grant for repair services that cover houses in their entirety and is working to adjust processes to reduce delays.
During public comment Amanda Kirch Gessner raised an access concern: she said a household that needed septic replacement was tied into sewer and then did not qualify for the grant despite meeting economic criteria and that attempts to reach county staff had not been answered; she asked the county to help ensure eligible households can access resources.
The public hearing was procedural to satisfy federal and state requirements for using HUD funds; the county staff said additional CDBG uses may be proposed and would be subject to the established application and public comment process.
Ending: County staff said they welcome further public input and will continue coordinating with INHS and environmental consultants to refine the application and the environmental review timeline if funding is awarded.
