County must use $4.2M in federal funds before government takes it back

HAMILTON — Nearly a year and a half after federal lawmakers gave Butler County $4.2 million to deal with the housing crisis, county leaders are still trying to figure out what to do with it.

With only six months to go before the federal government takes unused money back, commissioners heard a list of options today, Feb. 25, from county Community Development Director Donna Everson.

Monroe library

Commissioners said they’re open to spending $1 million renovating a former dialysis center in downtown Monroe to give the city’s lending library a permanent home, but only if the city agrees in writing to pay for ongoing staffing and maintenance.

Everson said the building was appraised at $600,000 and renovations were estimated at $600,000, so the city may also need to help with the initial costs.

“(The federal money) can provide the books for this library, we can provide computers, chairs, shelving, (everything) from start to finish,” Everson said.

Seven Mile gas station

Commissioner Donald Dixon expressed concerns time and again that the money be spent carefully, and that the owners of dilapidated properties not profit from it.

He called for the county to consider foreclosing on an abandoned gas station in Seven Mile. They plan to turn the land into a community park instead of buying it.

Others agreed that could save a few thousand dollars, but it could also drag on much longer.

Everson said it could take $19,000 to get clear title to the gas station, and $200,000 to clear it and remove the gas tanks — unless the tanks leaking. Then it could cost untold amounts more. But the village would be the property owner, so would have to pay the additional cleanup.

Demolishing blighted homes

Dixon also criticized a plan to tear down blighted buildings on unwanted land at no cost to the landowner. He called instead for the county to either take possession of the property, or assess the landowner for the cost of the demolition.

The properties in question ranged from a string of homes in New Miami to an abandoned Steak and Shake in West Chester Twp. Those buildings will continue to sit empty as Everson looks into Dixon’s proposal.

As they argue over the details, the clock is ticking. “We have to obligate all of it by Sept. 30. If we don’t obligate it, it’s gone.”

Other plans

Some plans commissioners did agree on:

• Spending $1.1 million to build two apartment buildings with four, one-bedroom apartments each. The units would be for Developmental Disabilities clients becoming adults or who have elderly caretakers.

• Spending $1 million on acquiring and rehabilitating blighted homes in partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services.

Grant awarded in 2008

The federal grant came through the Neighborhod Stabilization Program, created in 2008 to combat blight and foreclosure “Through the purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed and abandoned homes and residential properties,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Web site.

The county received $403,742 to administer the program.

Commission President Gregory Jolivette said it has been red tape that has kept the money from actually doing any good over the past year and a half.

Hamilton and Middletown have their own federal grants, together totaling $4.5 million, and have outlined plans to demolish or improve blighted properties.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.