County holds public hearing on $60,000 CDBG planning grant; commissioners review HWC proposal for comprehensive plan

Decatur County held a public hearing on July 21 required for its application to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for a $60,000 CDBG planning grant to complete a comprehensive plan. County staff read the grant notice and the project description, telling the board that $34,668 (57.78%) of the requested CDBG funds would be used for activities benefiting low- and moderate-income persons and that the county would provide a local match of $62,000 from the Build Decatur County Fund. The county’s planning staff said the public hearing provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment; no public comments were recorded during the hearing. Separately, Decatur County planning staff presented the selection committee’s recommendation to hire HWC Engineering for the comprehensive-plan contract if the grant is awarded. Staff described HWC’s three-tier proposal: a lower-tier $80,000 plan (more limited outreach), a mid-tier $115,000 plan (more focused community engagement that staff recommended), and a $140,000 option with expanded deliverables. Staff said the $115,000 contract would be partially funded by the $60,000 CDBG grant and that the county would need to cover the remaining contract balance if the grant is awarded. Staff said they will finalize the agreement if the grant is awarded and coordinate detailed public engagement, including multiple focus groups and two public workshops under the recommended $115,000 scope. Commissioners closed the hearing and approved a resolution authorizing the county to submit the CDBG application and to provide the local match funds if awarded.