Council considers options for CDBG

The city will have about $312K to spend next year.

Monongahela council discussed possible uses for the city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant money during its work session Monday morning.

Johanna Burdine, development specialist for the Washington County Redevelopment Authority, attended the meeting to hear what city officials intend to do with 2025 funds and provide updates on other CDBG projects.

The redevelopment authority administers the CDBG program in Washington County. Monongahela is one of the few communities in the county that receives CDBG money every year. According to Burdine, the city will receive about $312,000 in CDBG funds for 2025, $100,000 of which will be earmarked for home rehabilitation.

Street Foreman Chris Spahr mentioned a potential paving project involving a few streets, which he estimated to cost $126,000 in addition to engineering fees. He named the Lebanon Street parking area in between Devore Hardware and Frye Funeral Home and the parking area on Railroad Street between First and Second streets as part of the project.

However, Burdine informed the city that Lebanon Street is not eligible for CDBG funds as it has metered parking.

“Generally, you can’t have CDBG projects that gain money, just like how you’re not technically supposed to rent pavilions out that you pay for with CDBG money,” Burdine said.

Councilman Mark Gadd suggested the street department pave the parking area on Lebanon Street instead of using CDBG funds.

Burdine said the city could also pay the same contractor that paves the Railroad Street parking area to do Lebanon Street.

“We can combine a project so that we can get it all done at once, but then you pitch in money for that parking area on Lebanon,” she said.

Gadd asked Burdine if the city could get money from the county to buy a piece of property.

“Generally, the answer is no, but it also just depends on what you’re going to be doing with it,” Burdine said in response.

Gadd proposed buying the lot where the former Lincoln School building once stood so the city could turn it into a park.

Council also plans to reallocate $10,000 in CDBG funds that were intended for demolition to add to a tree-planting project on Second Street between Main and Chess streets. The city intends to plant a couple Slender Silhouette Sweetgum trees in that area.

Council also mentioned firefighter personal protective equipment as another potential use for CDBG funds if applicable.

The city’s plans for 2025 CDBG funds have not been finalized.