Friday, April 25th, 2025
'Shine a Light' grant targets SR 116 dumping site
By Abigail Miller
Photo by Abigail Miller/The Daily Standard
The property at 14974 State Route 116 has become a dumping ground over the years.
NOBLE TOWNSHIP - Auglaize County Commissioners are one step closer to cleaning up a longtime site of illegal dumping just off State Route 116.
Commissioners on Thursday approved and authorized the execution of the memorandum of understanding for a $48,183.34 Shine a Light on Dumpers grant from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's Office.
In celebration of Earth Day 2025, Yost doled out nearly $1 million in grants to more than two dozen local governments across the state, with Auglaize County being one of them. The funds will go toward the cleanup of existing illegal dump sites and will help prevent future environmental damage caused by the open dumping of solid waste and demolition debris.
Commissioners applied for the grant after consultation with the land owner and received the full amount requested. The property is located at 14974 State Route 116, St. Marys, and the owner is listed as B & K Body and Paint Shop Inc. on the county auditor's website.
Over the years, the property has become a dumping ground for various appliances, old furniture and worn tires due to a damaged fence and dense roadside vegetation.
With the funds, Noble Township plans to remove all of the debris and the dilapidated fencing, clear brush, then create a green space to eliminate the safety hazard.
Commissioners do not yet have a timeline for the project.
"Illegal dumping isn't just an eyesore - it's a health hazard and a public betrayal," Yost said in a news release. "These grants give communities the funding needed to reclaim places where they live, work and raise their families."
The Shine a Light on Dumpers initiative is a multi-layered program launched in 2023 to tackle illegal dumping through enforcement support, public education and financial resources, per the release. The grants were funded by settlement dollars secured by Yost's Environmental Enforcement team.
Grants of up to $100,000 were available for cleanup efforts. In addition, applicants could seek up to $20,000 for equipment - such as signs, gates and barriers - to deter future dumping.
