MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County commissioners held a hearing on March 19 to review the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) available to the county for Plan Year 2024-25.
Jillian Flowers, associate planner with CDC of Ohio, said Knox County is eligible for around $5 million in grant money. However, the county will not apply for the Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program (CHIP) grant ($750,000) this year.
All proposed projects must benefit low-to-moderate-income (LMI) individuals or eliminate slum and blight. At least 51 percent of grants must benefit LMI individuals.
LMI areas, according to current census figures, are Brinkhaven, Martinsburg, Danville, and several townships.
Villages, townships, and the county are encouraged to submit projects. The county will submit a project for an ADA ramp at the fairgrounds.
The commissioners will hold another public hearing in June and prioritize the projects. The first application deadline is June 12.
Recent county CDBG grants include ADA improvements at the county courthouse and service center. A partnership with the City of Mount Vernon is the Buckeye Addition project.
Brinkhaven was awarded a CDBG grant in 2022 to install sidewalks along Main Street in 2023. However, after changes in village leadership, village officials determined it was unwise to install sidewalks without addressing the underlying drainage issue.
The county amended the grant to put $26,400 toward feasibility and analysis of impediments studies. The commissioners reallocated the remaining $100,000 to the Martinsburg water system improvement project.
Martinsburg’s water project is in the design phase using critical infrastructure grant funds.
Knox Public Health
Health Commissioner Zach Green said KPH is waiting to hear whether Knox County Land Bank demolition money is available to demolish the structure at 205 W. Vine St. KPH will also demolish the former beauty salon at 103 S. Mechanic St.
The agency is looking to install backup generators in its West Vine Street office. Green said that location does not hold many vaccines due to potential loss from a power outage.
The community health survey is underway with good online results thus far. However, Green questioned whether online respondents include all of the demographics KPH wants to reach. Hard copies, QR codes, social media, and information to the county’s Spanish population are other ways KPH will seek information.
Knox County has not yet seen any cases of measles, but Green said, “We know it’s coming.” Additionally, childhood immunizations continue to decline.
The vaccine is still effective if administered soon after exposure. However, Green said Lab Corp — the company that processes the blood tests or throat swabs used to diagnose measles — takes five to six business days to return results. That is past the window to still be immunized if it’s a positive result.
Influenza is a concern based on test results at the county’s wastewater treatment plant. The county has trended upward for three consecutive months.
There is no increase in Mount Vernon’s or Gambier’s wastewater test results.
The annual report is complete.
911
February 911 calls totaled 1,383, down from January’s 1,404. CAD calls totaled 3,523, up slightly from January.
Operations Director Laura Webster said the department filled two full-time dispatch positions through interviews stemming from its recent open house. National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week is April 14-20.
The department continues to work with EMA to finalize a backup communications plan for the April 8 solar eclipse. If the MARCS system goes down, law enforcement will use Tango Tango.
Webster scheduled extra staff for part of the day, and the 4-12 shift will come in early to avoid traffic issues getting to the dispatch center.
