Hocking County approves CDBG application documents and joins hospital consortium to boost Medicaid reimbursements

Hocking County commissioners on June 5 approved paperwork to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for neighborhood and critical-infrastructure projects in the county and voted to join a multi-county hospital consortium intended to increase Medicaid reimbursement dollars for the county hospital.

County staff read a public-hearing notice that said in part, “Hocking County intends to apply to the Ohio Department of Development for funding under community development block grant, CDBG, small cities program,” and outlined proposed projects and budget estimates for the City of Logan and other villages. The board then approved and signed three application-related documents required by the state: the residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan, an authorizing resolution on county letterhead, and the environmental review certificate.

The CDBG materials presented to the board listed a mix of proposed projects and budget figures. Items identified for possible inclusion in the county application included: City of Logan Neighborhood Revitalization Grant (NRG) program activity with an estimated total project cost of $787,600 (NRG construction $700,000; administration $50,000; local allocation/match $37,600); a Critical Infrastructure Grant proposal for an unnamed village with estimated project cost $582,405 (construction $470,000; administration $30,000; allocation/match $82,400); and a note that the county is eligible to apply for up to $750,000 under the Neighborhood Revitalization Grant and up to $500,000 under the Critical Infrastructure Grant. The staff presentation said the Louisville/ downtown drainage work would replace roughly 1,000 feet of piping and about 16 catch basins; it also said the anti-displacement plan would only come into play if a project caused relocations and that the presented drainage and sidewalk work was not expected to displace residents.

The board approved the application documents by voice vote; a staff member told the commissioners the required forms could be signed in general business and mailed to the state.

Separately, the board voted to join a five-county consortium proposed to collect a hospital tax-like assessment that member counties then use to seek additional federal Medicaid matching funds. The board discussed the mechanics at length, with a commissioner summarizing the local effect as a net financial benefit to the hospital system and the county’s ability to draw down additional federal dollars. The commissioner added, “The patients are not impacted at all,” while explaining the county itself would not pay the assessment and the hospital would remit the funds that are then pooled for federal matching.

Commissioners approved a resolution to join the consortium and nominated a county representative, Drew (full name not specified in the record), to serve as the county’s appointee. The board completed a roll-call on that vote with all three commissioners recorded in favor.

Votes at a glance

- Approval and signing of three CDBG application documents (residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan; authorizing resolution on county letterhead; environmental review certificate): approved (voice vote). Notes: staff read the March 6 public hearing notice and presented project cost estimates and allocation/match amounts for City of Logan and other communities; anti-displacement plan will apply only if relocations occur.

- Resolution to join multi-county hospital consortium and appointment of county representative (nominee: Drew): approved (roll call recorded as all yes). Notes: commissioners said the program aims to increase federal Medicaid reimbursement to the hospital by creating state-level matching that yields additional federal funds; county role described as administrative/representative; county stated not to bear the cost.

- Minutes, bills and routine appropriations: multiple motions to approve meeting minutes (May 13, May 15, May 22, May 27 emergency, May 29), approval of bills and agenda: approved (voice votes; several roll-call votes recorded on specific minutes items with some abstentions noted in the record).

- Appropriation transfers and revenue adjustments: recorder’s office transfer $652.76 (approved); commissioners’ OPERS-to-Medicare transfer $2,500 (approved); rescission of an initial appropriation for sheriff’s web check (approved); certificate of additional revenue/appropriation to treasurer/other expense $5,724.94 (approved); auditor sale expense $5,080.19 (approved).

- Proxy/administrative authorizations: annual proxy letter allowing the sheriff’s office to authorize documents for Ohio BMV vehicle work (approved); authorization permitting Chief Penny Stack (sheriff’s office) to sign required BMV documents on behalf of the sheriff’s office (approved).

- Appointments and contracts: appointment of Tom Williamson to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMH) board to fill a vacancy with term beginning July 1 and expiring June 30, 2027 (approved); final change order/contract reduction and closeout paperwork for the Rockbridge Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project (approved).

Other business and community notices included approval of five parking spaces for handicapped parking during the Washboard Festival, announcements about a courthouse centennial celebration on June 23, local events and outreach by the Hocking County early intervention team, and discussion of next steps on forming a county land bank (the board said a resolution to form a land bank is expected soon and the aim is for organizational steps to proceed in coming months).

Ending

Commissioners closed the meeting after public comment and adjournment motions. County staff advised that the CDBG application documents would be mailed to the state and that project estimates are pending final cost numbers from engineering and local officials.