Hocking County commissioners approve CDBG application documents after public hearing on Logan, Louisville and Laurelville projects

Hocking County commissioners on June 5 held a public hearing and voted to authorize submission of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application materials to the Ohio Department of Development, including documents related to a Neighborhood Revitalization Grant for the City of Logan and critical‑infrastructure projects for the villages of Louisville and Laurelville.

The hearing, read into the record by county staff, described the county’s intent “to apply to the Ohio Department of Development for funding under [the] Community Development Block Grant, Small Cities program,” a federally funded program administered through the state. The county also reviewed which activities would meet the program’s low‑and‑moderate‑income national objective and disclosed estimated project budgets.

The presentation identified the City of Logan Neighborhood Revitalization Grant (NRG) project with an estimated total cost of $787,600, of which $700,000 is designated for construction, $50,000 for administration and $37,600 as the required local allocation match. The county also said it would pursue up to $750,000 in Neighborhood Revitalization Grant funding under the program for eligible activities.

For the Village of Louisville the county described a CDBG Critical Infrastructure Grant request with an estimated total project cost of $582,405: $470,000 for construction, $30,000 for administration and an $82,400 allocation match. The Louisville work was described as focused on flood and drainage improvements in a downtown‑adjacent area — including approximately 16 catch basins and roughly 1,000 feet of new piping — and related sidewalk and paving work on Third Street. The Village of Laurelville was listed as a proposed critical‑infrastructure applicant as well, with an allocation match figure of $82,400 noted earlier in the announcement.

County staff told the board that final design estimates were still pending and that the exact length of Third Street to be improved would depend on the returned cost estimates. The presenters also noted that Church Street had been considered but that parts of it were the subject of other grant applications.

Commissioners approved three standard application documents required for the CDBG program — the environmental review certificate, the residential anti‑displacement and relocation assistance plan (which the presenter said would likely not be triggered by the planned sidewalk and drainage work), and an authorizing resolution/letterhead — and authorized county officials to sign them. The motion was made and carried by voice vote.

The county’s presentation said administration, fair‑housing requirements and some planning items were exempt from environmental review, and that the anti‑displacement document provides a process to pay relocation costs if displacement were to occur; presenters said displacement was not expected for the planned drainage and sidewalk work.

The board and staff encouraged residents and municipal partners to ask questions as estimates are finalized and noted that the three application documents did not need to be signed immediately and could be handled as part of general business.

Proponents and project partners cited in the presentation included City of Logan staff and the city’s service director, Bruce Walker, as well as DLZ (an engineering/consulting firm) for project work. Commissioners scheduled the documents for signature and directed staff to continue coordination with the municipalities and finalize cost estimates prior to submission.

Votes at the June 5 meeting on the CDBG materials were taken by voice vote; the board approved signing and submitting the required documents.

The county will submit the application to the Ohio Department of Development and proceed with final design and cost estimation for the projects if funding is awarded.