News
Athens County Commissioners Select Four Projects For Funding
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
Posted on:
Four projects have been selected by the Athens County Commissioners for Community Development Block Grant funding.
The commissioners had some decisions to make because funding requests totaled $752,324, but the county will have only $108,000 in CDBG funding available for projects. The county is guaranteed the money, provided the commissioners submit projects that meet grant guidelines.
The four projects selected are: replacing old windows at the former Nelsonville High School building, $21,900; roof repair at the Federal Valley Resource Center in Stewart, $19,100; new sidewalks along the Routes 13/78 intersection in Glouster, $37,000; and purchase of a generator for the Rome Twp. Fire Station, which could serve as an emergency shelter, $30,000.
Two projects — window replacement at the former Nelsonville High School and the Rome Twp. firehouse generator — are earmarked to receive less than was requested.
A request of $34,175 was made for the generator, but the commissioners are planning to provide $30,000 of CDBG funding. The fire department has indicated it can cover the $4,175 difference, according to the commissioners.
The Nelsonville Restoration Foundation, which owns the former high school building, had requested $51,000 for the window replacement. With the commissioners earmarking only $21,900 of CDBG funding, the window replacement will likely have to be done in phases, County Commission President Lenny Eliason said.
Also, the commissioners said they want to check with the foundation about future plans for the facility and whether the foundation intends to retain ownership of the building.
Unless problems arise, the projects selected Tuesday will receive funding from the county's share of CDBG money, Eliason said.
The commissioners also picked an alternate project, a $27,400 request from Jacksonville to resurface Railroad Street.