MOUNT VERNON — Danville officials explained plans Tuesday to apply for grant money that would continue to fund replacing water lines on South Market Street.
The village will apply for a $470,000 critical infrastructure grant through the Community Development Block Grant program.
“The reason we’re applying for this is our system was put in in the late 1950s,” Village Administrator Joel Stachler explained at a CDBG meeting.
“We’ve had a lot of major breaks throughout the years. As we did our hydrant flushing last year, we found that a lot of the hydrants that are in this section of the system are nonoperable. So fire protection for our residents is pretty critical.”
“We’ve had a great deal of concern with infiltration into our water system or treatment system, and we’ve been very diligent to try and track that down,” Mayor Joe Mazzari said.
The plan is to replace the water lines from the telephone booth building to the municipal building, Mazzari said.
The ultimate goal is revitalizing the water system in the neighborhoods south of the bridge on both sides of Market Street.
“Both neighborhoods are in need of updates,” Mazzari said.
The village upgrades water meters as it can afford them and is working on mapping lines.
The grant money covers 100% of construction costs. The village is responsible for engineering expenses.
Flowers said Danville has the documentation, support letters, and pictures needed to apply as soon as the state of Ohio makes it available.
Village still qualifies for CDBG grant money
CDBG grants must benefit low- to moderate-income (LMI) residents.
Danville was previously considered LMI but did not qualify, according to the latest census.
However, village officials conducted an income survey, and the results show Danville still qualifies for CDBG money.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development administers the grant through the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD).
“This is a competitive program, and we think that [Danville’s project] is strong enough to move forward,” Jillian Flowers, associate planner with CDC of Ohio, said.
CDC of Ohio helps the Knox County Board of Commissioners apply for CDBG grants.
The village will apply for the grant in June. The ODOD awards the projects on Sept. 1 and typically releases the funds in February.
Revitalizing Danville’s south end
Future improvement projects include addressing storm sewer issues throughout the village, but primarily on the south end.
Another project is installing sidewalks.
“We’ve got an open-ended culvert or ditch system where it’s not safey to travel by foot to the general stores that we have down here,” he said. “We hope to enclose all that and put in a sidewalk so that people traveling down here to do business can walk there safely.”
Years ago, the village was a stopping point on U.S. Highway 62. Mazzari said revitalizing the south end of town with restroom facilities in Memorial Park would again make the village a stopping point for travelers.
The village is also working on connecting the Kokosing Gap and Mohican Valley trails.
