Ashland County board opens CDBG planning grant public hearing, approves related certifications and resolutions

Ashland County opened a public hearing and approved multiple items tied to a proposed Community Development Block Grant planning application, including required citizen-participation and anti-displacement certifications and authorizing resolutions to apply for funds.

The hearing and follow-up votes were part of the county's effort to secure up to $50,000 in CDBG planning funds, for which the county must provide a $25,000 cash or in‑kind match. County grant writer Erica Hanickel said Ashland County qualifies as eligible because 51.3% of county residents are low‑to‑moderate income (LMI). Hanickel presented maps and local housing indicators as part of the hearing.

The nut graf: The grants the county is pursuing are strictly for planning assistance to update the Ashland County comprehensive plan under Wisconsin law (chapter 66.1001), county staff and regional planners said; the money cannot be used for construction. The board approved the administrative steps required to submit the application and to commit the local match that would unlock the planning grant.

County grant writer Erica Hanickel opened the public presentation by describing the grant rules and local need: “Ashland County is a majority low to moderate income community. We are 51.3% LMI, low to moderate income. And so we qualify as a county to apply directly for CDBG grant funds. The maximum award is $50,000. We need to promise $25,000 in hard match and or in kind match, and we are applying for the maximum award.”

Emily Nelson, a community development specialist with the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC), summarized the role and content of a Wisconsin comprehensive plan and the state law that governs it. Nelson said the county plan update will follow the nine statutory elements in Wisconsin Stat. ch. 66.1001 and will include a 20‑year outlook, a background report, maps and an implementation section.

NWRPC staff described the mapping and data work that will underpin the update. Clem Larson, NWRPC GIS specialist, said existing land‑use mapping will be compiled parcel‑by‑parcel using county parcel data and aerial imagery and that a future land‑use map will be produced at the county level because most towns do not have a full plan in place.

The board voted to: open the public hearing by voice vote; approve the Citizen Participation Certification; adopt the Wisconsin Residential Anti‑Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan (a standard CDBG requirement); approve an authorizing resolution to submit the CDBG planning application (identified in the meeting as R03‑2025‑1497); and approve a resolution to commit match funds and certify that the match is secured (R03‑2025‑1498). The board also approved related nondiscrimination and fair‑housing resolutions and the fair‑housing ordinance required for CDBG eligibility. All actions were taken by voice vote with the chair announcing “motion carried.”

County staff and NWRPC clarified the scope of the grant: eligible activities for this planning award are limited to comprehensive‑plan development and administrative costs. Hanickel said the county foresees no residential or business displacement from the planning update; the board recorded that statement in the hearing record.

Board members and staff also discussed how the county will use the grant work: a steering/ planning committee has been formed and is chaired by George Boussay, and committee members will provide periodic updates to the full board. Committee members will solicit input from departments, townships and the public as required by Wisconsin law. Board members asked that electronic copies of the draft plan include hyperlinks to deeper studies and department plans to make the plan more usable.

The board approved an agreement titled “agreement between the Northwest Regional Planning Commission and Ashland County.” County staff clarified in debate that an additional NWRPC contract discussed later in the meeting is for administration of a previously awarded CDBG public‑facilities grant (the homeless shelter project) and that the shelter will pay the administration fee; the county voted to approve the agreement shown on the agenda.

Ending: With the procedural steps approved, staff said they will submit the CDBG planning application and continue the committee work on the comprehensive plan update. The board kept the public hearing record open until the end of the meeting and then closed it by vote.