Sandusky program sets $25,000 minimum for code-compliance grants, rolls out exterior paint pilot
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Summary
City staff reported a $300,000 citywide beautification allocation for 2026 with at least $25,000 reserved for code-compliance grants, exterior-repair grants covering 50% up to $3,000, and a pilot paint supplies program launching April 1 to provide up to $2,000 in materials for eligible owner-occupied single-family homes.
Debbie Eversol, who said, "My name's Debbie Eversol and I administer the housing development and beautification program for the city," briefed the Housing Appeals Board on the program's 2025 outcomes and 2026 plans.
Eversol said the program has a $300,000 citywide allocation for improvements and that the city will set aside at least $25,000 of that specifically for code-compliance grants. "For exterior repairs, we provide 50% of the project cost but the grant limit is 3,000," she told the board.
Why it matters: the reserved minimum is intended to guarantee that code-violation remediation can still access funding even when larger redevelopment projects claim most of the pot.
Eversol reported that in 2025 the program approved six applicants with code violations, committed $22,814 and spent $16,664 on completed projects. She cited example addresses where work closed violations and showed before-and-after photos to the board.
The program also offers incentives for new construction: Eversol said new single-family construction is eligible for a $7,500 reimbursement and a 75% tax abatement for 10 years.
The board spent time on program mechanics. Eversol said applicants seeking exterior-repair grants receive an approved amount based on estimates and are reimbursed after the work is completed; receipts and staff inspections are required. On project timing she told the board, "We do give them 6 months" to complete work, with extensions possible in cases where work began late in the year.
Eversol introduced a pilot exterior-paint program the board approved to launch April 1 and run through Oct. 31. "This exterior paint program ... we're going to provide up to $2,000 in paint supplies and materials for eligible homes," she said, stressing that the program supplies materials only and will not fund labor. She added the program will include detached garages and is limited to owner-occupied, single-family homes.
Board members asked whether the budget had previously been $400,000; Eversol said $100,000 of the earlier total goes to home-purchase assistance and is separate from the improvement programs. On safeguards for the paint program she explained the city will reimburse based on submitted estimates and receipts and will perform follow-up checks.
Eversol closed by directing interested residents to the program web page and her contact information, which she said would be posted on the city's website when the pilot opens.
The board did not take a formal vote on the pilot during the presentation; staff reported they would begin accepting applications when the site publishes the application materials.
