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Demolition projects on funding wish list; Grant money sought to tear down White Rubber in Ravenna and Hiram Elementary School

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April 19, 2009

 


By Mike Sever


Record-Courier staff writer


 


Ten projects are asking Portage County commissioners for Community Development Block Grant funds. The requests exceed the available funds by nearly $600,000.


The county has $290,500 to spread among six project slots but only 49 percent of the grant can go to slum and blight abatement.


Family & Community Services Inc. is seeking $150,000 to demolish to former White Rubber Co. plant on Cleveland Road in Ravenna. That’s more than the $142,300 limit for slum and blight abatement.


Mark Frisone, executive director of F&CS, said the owner of the rubber company property wants to donate it to F&CS. Frisone said money is available from the state Clean Ohio Fund for cleaning up old industrial sites, but the county or city would have to make the application and eventually take ownership of the 2.89-acre property.


If the county applies, it would be the first brownfields project in Portage, Frisone said. 


The property is adjacent to F&CS headquarters on Oakwood Street, and Frisone said there is the possibility of expanded parking for his property, the Resources on Oakwood Campus, and for other purposes by the county.


The village of Hiram is asking for $164,000 to demolish and remove the former Hiram Elementary School. Mayor Lou Bertrand said the building has become hazardous.


Windham Mayor Rob Donham said the village is asking for $230,400 to tear down a dozen dilapidated and vacant apartment houses in the Maple Grove area.


Other projects seeking funds are:


• $102,877 by Coleman Professional Services for rehabilitation work of an apartment building in Ravenna; 


• $72,000 by Family & Community Services Inc., to buy four 12-person vehicles for client transportation;


• $50,000 by Aura Housing to acquire a house to be used as a homeless youth shelter;


• $ 50,000 by the Community Action Council to replace the roof on their building in Ravenna.


• $31,400 by Family & Community Services Inc. pave a parking lot at its Oakwood Street building for use by Portage Senior Center attendees;


• $28,767 by Townhall II for rehabilitation work at its Kent office building.


 


Commissioners have to make their decisions by May 21 and the grant application is due in Columbus by June 26.


 




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 3 Total Comments
3.
    Posted by dp April 19, 2009
Dowhat you have an opportunity to be heard on the awards of these dollars by the Portage County Commissioners.

Once the decision is made to fund which projects, a public hearing will be held by the commissioners at which time you can state your support, opposition, concerns, etc.

You also voted for three commissioners who will decide how the dollars will be awarded, and you can contact them before hand to voice your concerns. (Even if you didn't vote for the three in office, they are still 'your' commissioners)

You also voted for a governor who appointed the director to ODOD(Ohio Department of Development) and an Ohio Rep and State Senator who play into the mix of this. And while you may not have voted for those occupying the current office, they are still your representatives.

2.
    Posted by klroach April 19, 2009
All grants, hun? Okay how many college students get grants??? Pell grants?? DoWhatsRight are you going to go to every college student and tell them we have to vote on your application?? Yes some grants are paid by taxpayers but not all. You need to realize the block grant is set aside by the state every year. So it is not a new tax, and it goes towards improvements.

1.
    Posted by DoWhatsRight April 19, 2009
Why should all of this be done at taxpayer's expense? Make no mistake, a grant is still taxpayers money. I do not think this should be approved. I think all grants should be voted on by the public.

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