County reviews three CDBG applications including West Unity pump station and downtown rehab; second hearing set for May 19

Williams County commissioners reviewed three Community Development Block Grant applications on Thursday, hearing presentations from the Maumee Valley Planning Organization and scheduling the second public hearing required for local project selection.

Lauren, a planner with the Maumee Valley Planning Organization, told the board it received three applications locally. She said the state submission deadline is June 10 and reminded the board that projects selected in this cycle must meet HUD-related contracting and construction deadlines: "for the grant cycle, it's 2 years ... when we submit 2026 applications, you have until August 2028 to complete the construction," staff said.

Project highlights presented to the board included:

- West Unity pump-station replacement: total project cost $528,500. Presenters said the residential public infrastructure grant can fund up to $750,000, so the project would be eligible for that funding if selected.

- Pioneer: noted as an anticipated critical-infrastructure applicant; presenters said critical-infrastructure awards are typically for road reconstruction projects with total costs above $1,000,000. The county had no open critical-infrastructure slots this year.

- Downtown building improvements at 119 South Beach Street for Inspiring Hope Counseling: total project cost $226,700; the downtown grant offers up to $250,000. Lauren said the city council would need to pass a resolution declaring the building blighted for that funding stream to proceed.

Staff and commissioners discussed practical issues tied to project delivery, including contractor scheduling, seasonal weather constraints and inspection responsibilities. Staff explained that municipalities often provide construction oversight through their engineers; when a municipality lacks an engineer it may hire an outside firm. For one Pulaski Township project, staff said the county engineer prepared the specifications but did not provide construction oversight, and the township was left to arrange inspections.

A commissioner raised safety concerns about one active Pulaski Township site, describing deep, water-filled holes and a vehicle stuck in a driveway and calling the situation "very poorly managed." Lauren said she had attempted to contact the project manager and that when she visited the site the previous week there were not yet crews working.

The board agreed to schedule the second public hearing for CDBG project selection on May 19 and asked staff to post the required newspaper notice listing all projects and to notify the downtown-building owner of the hearing date. The state submission deadline and the two-year grant window make timely posting and local action critical for applicant eligibility.

The second public hearing will be the occasion for the board to rank and select projects for submission to the state; staff said they will return with the advertised hearing notice and project summaries for formal action.