MANSFIELD — Richland County commissioners Tuesday approved a plan to apply for $341,200 in Community Development Block Grant funds.
That figure includes a $50,000 commitment from the Richland County Regional Planning Commission out of a revolving loan fund, said Jotika Shetty, the commission’s executive director.
“We had some balances and the state asked that we move those balances,” she said.
Combined with the $290,000 in CDBG funds the state is giving Richland County, Shetty said the total allocation is $341,200.
Of that amount, $210,000 is earmarked for a new generator at the Dayspring Assisted Living and Care Facility and $75,000 for Richland County Transit to cover reduced bus fare for disabled and elderly passengers.
The county’s application to the state is essentially the approval process for how the funds are being used and allowing projects to proceed or not, Shetty said.
Remaining funds will be used for Fair Housing education and grant administrative costs.
CDBG dollars are federal funds administered by the state. They must be used to benefit low- and moderate-income populations, Shetty said.
She presented the two projects regional planning received to commissioners during the second CDBG public hearing Tuesday.
Commissioner Cliff Mears said he felt both projects are “essential and important priorities.”
Dayspring generator replacement
Michelle Swank, executive director of Dayspring, said one of the facility’s two generators is 25 years old and is surpassing its workable life span.
She said the plan is to replace the aging generator with something new and more powerful.
It would service the facility in the event of a power outage, as well as provide backup power to the facility’s wastewater treatment plant — which currently isn’t powered by any generator.
“Whenever we lose power it is a hardship, especially for our wastewater department who takes care of it,” Swank said. “They have to rush out there and make sure everything is going well so that the plant does not suffer from a loss of power.”
Shetty’s recommendation was to fund $210,000 of Dayspring’s request for $230,000. The project will cost $236,977 in total, she said.
RCT reduced bus fare
RCT asked for assistance covering reduced bus fare and ADA transit for disabled and elderly passengers. The support for the transit service helps enable operations, Shetty said.
Half-rate bus passes are offered by RTC to senior citizens and disabled passengers, she said.
“They (RCT) anticipate by getting this grant, they’d be able to serve up to 200 LMI (low- and moderate-income) individuals — assisting them with almost 1,900 transit passes and almost 2,000 ADA trips,” Shetty said.
RCT asked for $75,000 and Shetty recommended funding the full amount of the request.
She said the county will have its application filed by June 11.