Colony move frees up $10,000 from block grant
By Justin McIntosh, jmcintosh@mariettatimes.comFact Box
Eligible CDBG projects:
Washington-Morgan Community Action* - Home building repair.
Washington-Morgan Community Action - Building rehabbed in New Matamoras.
Washington County commissioners, Macksburg - Planning for a preliminary sewer system.
Watertown Volunteer Fire Department* - Construction of a new fire department.
Wesley Township - Sidewalks and township building improvements.
Marietta Township - Removal of architectural barriers for access to the township center.
Little Muskingum Volunteer Fire Department* - Fire protection equipment/purchase of a base truck.
Liberty Township - Community center rehabilitation.
Village of Beverly - Senior citizen center rehabilitation.
Lowell/Adams Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association - Purchase of customized squad.
City of Belpre* - Senior center expansion.
Little Muskingum Volunteer Fire Department - Purchase of radios/elimination of barrier to access.
Fearing Township Volunteer Fire Department - Fire department facility/building rehabbed.
* - Denotes projects that have already received funding this year.
Source: Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District
Several Washington County projects are up for more county funding after the historic Colony Theatre withdrew this week from $10,000 worth of block grants.
"(The Colony) is not going to be able to use the money before Dec. 1, so we're trying to determine if one of the applicants from last year can find the matching funds," said Washington County Commissioner Sam Cook. "It's only $10,000 and the (eligible) projects cost $20,000, $30,000 or $50,000."
A Colony official told commissioners this week the theater wouldn't be able to complete its funded project before the end of the year, which is the deadline for Community Development Block Grants to be used.
As a result, county commissioners are expected to review Thursday those eligible block grant projects that might still be able to use the funds prior to 2010. At the meeting, commissioners will be presented with a list of 13 potentially eligible projects ranging from the expansion of a volunteer fire department to the rehabilitation of a senior center.
Michelle Hyer, a development specialist with Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District, the agency administering the block grants for the county, said in some ways the task before commissioners of deciding which project gets funded could be quite easy.
"We received these applications this time last year. So some of them may have been funded, some may have been completed, and some may have decided they didn't want to do the project," Hyer said.
In other words, that could leave only a few projects for commissioners to choose from.
Perhaps the most logical way forward, Hyer said, is to fund a project that's already received block grant funds this year, like Watertown Township's construction of a new volunteer fire department.
That project has already been funded, but the cost of construction went up and the township will need an additional $20,000 to complete it. The commissioners, Hyer said, could choose to give the $10,000 from the Colony to the township, but the township will be then be responsible for coming up with an additional $10,000 to finish construction.
If the commissioners choose to fund a project that didn't get funded this year through the block grant process, there may be a greater chance of having the money returned to the county, as happened with the Colony.
"If they choose to put that money into a new project," Hyer said, "they have to complete an environmental review after it's reviewed by the state; and that can take 45 to 60 days. So it may not be feasible to put that into a new project because of the (time) constraints."
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opinionator
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04-06-09 11:30 AM
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Took a tour last year given by Mr Brawley. Was suprised to see they were cleaning the curtain before a broom had even been used in the place. 30 tear old dirt everywhere. Was told work was beginning in a few months. He kept speaking in circles about the tax partners it was his responsibility to obtain. Money spent on a street festival each year and was kind of wondering what that had to do with lack of money spent inside. Now giving up $10,000 because he didn't bother to spend it. We need someone new leading this effort. Mr Brawley had had more than ample time to get things going. One broken promise after another from him on moving foreward requires new leadership to be found. And quickly! Sorry Mr Brawley, but at my employer it works that way.
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commetsatlarge
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04-05-09 4:56 AM
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Its in Hunt's best interest (he keeps getting paid) if the project is like the Energizer Bunny and keeps going and going and going
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scandalous
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04-04-09 6:36 PM
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The colony would be an incredible asset to draw tourists with money, if it were to finally get opened in the next decade or two. Not sure how much cash it needs sunk into it before that could happen?
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smokehouse
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04-04-09 1:19 PM
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The Colony keeps asking for money. How much is Hunt Brawley paid in salary each year? The accept public money maybe they should report expenses.
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