Portage County approves three CDBG-RLF pre-applications, loans for health-and-safety projects

The Portage County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 approved pre-applications and financing terms for three community development projects using CDBG revolving-loan funds, moves county staff said are intended to secure federal funds and prevent the state from reallocating unused money.

Andrea, a county staff member in the community-development program, told the commissioners the steering committee received four applications and recommended advancing three that meet the CDBG national objective of “limited clientele.” The three projects are a fence repair at Horizon House, new parking-lot lighting at the Coleman Scribe Center, and a new duplex proposed by Residential Resources for the Developmentally Challenged (RRDC).

The board approved a $10,000 loan to Town Hall 2 to repair a damaged fence at Horizon House as a health-and-safety maintenance project. The loan was described by staff as a 3% amortizing loan with a 20-year term; the board also authorized Commissioner Mike Tenland, president of the board, to sign the county’s certification that the project is categorically excluded from a full environmental review. Commissioners Sabrina and Jill voted yes on the roll call.

Separately, the board approved a $24,500 loan to Coleman Professional Services for additional lighting in a parking area to address safety concerns. That project was listed as a categorical exclusion, and the board approved a 0% due-on-sale mortgage for the loan; the president was authorized to sign the exemption certification.

The third approved pre-application was a $150,000 loan to RRDC for construction of a new duplex that staff said would house four individuals. The board’s approval of the loan was contingent on RRDC documenting $281,484 in matching funds; staff said that project required an environmental assessment rather than an exemption because it is new construction. The board also authorized the president to sign the request for release of funds and required certifications for federally funded state projects.

County staff emphasized that CDBG-RLF funds must be committed and used or the state may reallocate the money in the next allocation; two of the projects were listed as exempt from environmental review and one required an assessment. Documents and loan terms were noted as reviewed by the Department of Budget and Financial Management.

The approvals were made by roll call votes with the three commissioners voting in favor on each item. No motions to amend loan terms were recorded at the meeting. The project that lacked matching funds remains at the pre-application stage and will not be advanced until additional funding is secured.