Three towns will get more funds

Ohio Department of Development officials approved a change in the county's 2005 Community Development Block Grant program that will provide $8,000 windfalls for three communities.

The $25,000 in annual formula grant money distributed by the state to the county originally was earmarked for Union Township. A change in plans in that community has resulted in the other towns getting larger county CDBG allocations than they originally expected.

St. Henry used its original grant funding to upgrade a failing concrete sewer line. Rockford used its grant award toward a water line replacement and Fort Recovery used its grant toward a village-wide storm sewer separation project.

The canceled Union Township plans means Fort Recovery and St. Henry will receive an additional $8,400 and Rockford will get an extra $8,300. The additional CDBG money will help offset the local matching money provided by each community.

Union Township originally was awarded the money to help build a new firehouse in Mendon. When the township bought an existing building, the money was reassigned by county officials - and approved by state officials - to help pay for demolition of the existing building in Mendon's downtown business block.

Township officials now have scrapped plans to tear down the old firehouse and ODOD officials refused to allow a third change in the grant money for that community. Commissioners then decided to award the extra money to three projects already had approved locally and by state officials.