Delaware County holds public hearing on 2025–2029 CDBG consolidated plan; public comment period ends Jan. 14

Delaware County commissioners convened a public hearing at 10:04 a.m. to review and take comments on the county's draft 2025—6 consolidated plan for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. County staff said the draft will be submitted to HUD after the public comment period closes on Jan. 14.

The hearing presented an overview of the CDBG program and Delaware County's initial five-year strategy, with county consultant Civic Uplift assisting in administration. Karen McDermott described CDBG as a federal HUD program that funds locally identified community needs with a focus on infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, water and sewer, utilities and public facilities), limited economic development and home-repair activities that benefit low- and moderate-income residents, including elderly and disabled adults.

County staff said 2025 was the county's first year eligible as an entitlement community. McDermott also explained a HUD monitoring rule: about 60 days before the next program year HUD reviews grantee accounts and may reclaim funds if an account holds more than 1.5 times the allocation, which creates an incentive to spend down funds in a timely manner.

The consolidated plan process identified three goals for the county's first five-year period: invest in community infrastructure and facilities; support stable and sustainable neighborhoods; and stand up the administrative capacity to run the CDBG program effectively. The FY2025 annual action plan was described as split into three buckets: program administration (administration is capped at 20% of the grant), a Delaware County Public Services Program to support nonprofits (operating costs for nonprofits are limited to 15% of the grant), and a public infrastructure and facilities program (approximately 65% of funds). McDermott cited a line item of $61,167.30 for the nonprofit-support bucket as an illustrative figure in the draft.

Commissioners asked whether additional jurisdictions could join the county program in future years. Staff said municipal corporations must opt in with a written agreement, townships that do not respond may be included by default, and jurisdictions can join for the 2026 federal program year; allocations for the county depend on the populations of participating jurisdictions. Participating jurisdictions for FY2025 were named as the City of Powell, Village of Ostrander, Village of Shawnee Hills, Orange Township and Marlborough Township.

Staff emphasized that, despite being a HUD program, CDBG is generally restricted in housing activities (it allows limited repairs and code upgrades but not new housing construction) and is best described as funding "bricks and sticks" public infrastructure that supports quality neighborhoods.

The draft plan was released for public comment and staff asked residents to submit feedback before Jan. 14; after the comment period the county will submit the final plan to HUD and, if HUD approves the plan and releases funds in HUD's IDIS system, staff expected construction work could begin in spring, subject to federal budget timing and HUD approval.

During public comment Joseph Prome, mayor of Ostrander, said his village already has identified projects with Civic Uplift and expressed strong support: "We're really excited about this, and we already have some projects identified. We're ready to go as soon as this is up and moving." No written testimony was received during the hearing.

The hearing closed at 10:21 a.m. Commissioners thanked staff and Civic Uplift for their work and said the county will stay in contact with participating jurisdictions about next steps.

Votes at a glance: During the session the board also voted to adjourn into executive session under Resolution 26-16 "for consideration of appointment, employment, compensation of a public employee, purchase of property for public purposes and collective bargaining." The motion carried with recorded votes of "Aye" from Mister Merrill, Mister Benton and Missus Lewis.

What happens next: The public comment period remains open through Jan. 14; the county will compile comments, submit the consolidated plan to HUD and await HUD's approval and IDIS release before obligating funds and beginning projects.