Commissioners discuss courthouse issue and Moving Ohio Forward Grant

| February 27, 2013

COSHOCTON – The Coshocton County Courthouse is closed today, Feb. 27, because of a water main break.

According to Commissioner Curtis Lee, the water line ruptured yesterday, Feb. 26, and the Courthouse had to be shut down because water is used to heat the building. Bill Albert is replacing the line and hopes to have the project completed today, Feb. 27.

At their Feb. 27 meeting the Coshocton County Commissioners also discussed details of the Moving Ohio Forward Grant.

“I received a call from John (Cleek, CDC of Ohio) who wants us to select half of the properties to start title searches on,” said Robin Schonauer, budget director. “We have 21 houses total with 10 being in the county and 11 in the city.”

Lee said the purpose of the Moving Ohio Forward Grant is to remove blighted and dilapidated houses.

Funds for the grant came from a class action lawsuit with five of the largest mortgage providers over foreclosure issues. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is distributing the money and allocated $75 million for Ohio’s 88 counties to use to demolish abandoned homes.

“We held a public hearing with the townships, villages and City of Coshocton officials to explain the grant, what would qualify under it and to give them the opportunity to suggest houses,” Lee said.

Coshocton was awarded $197,534 to use on the houses that were selected. More houses will only be added to the list if that money is not all used on the original 21 homes or the Commissioners find out the grant program has money left over that they can reapply for.

However, before these homes are torn down a title search, which will be done by Owen’s & Manning, must be done on each of them.

“We can’t tear down a building that belongs to someone else,” Lee said. “A lot of times banks will still have a lien on the property.”

Schonauer said bidding on the actual destruction of these properties will probably not begin until May or June.

In other news, the Commissioners:

Ÿ Requested a motion granting permission to the Veterans Service Commission to attend meetings conferences and seminars for the 2013 calendar year.

Ÿ Requested a motion granting permission to move Brittany Gnizak from part-time intermittent to full-time employment at the Coshocton County Emergency Medical Service effective Friday, March 1, as requested by Bernie Minet, EMS Director.

Ÿ Requested a motion granting permission to move Jennifer Singleton from part-time intermittent to full-time employment at the Coshocton County Emergency Medical Service effective Friday, March 1, as requested by Bernie Minet, EMS Director.

Ÿ Requested a motion granting permission to the Public Defender to attend CLE Training in Columbus, on Friday, March 1, at an estimated cost of $122.69.

Ÿ The Commissioners also approved the salary for Dave Dilly who was recently added to the Veterans Service Commission.

josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com

 

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Category: Government

About the Author ()

I started my journalism career in 2002 with a daily newspaper chain. After various stops with them, I am happy to be back home! I graduated from Coshocton High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2002 from Walsh University. I also earned several awards while working for daily papers, including being honored by Coshocton County’s veterans for the stories I wrote about them. I am honored and ready to once again shine a positive light on Coshocton County. I also am the proud mother of a little girl named Sophia!

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