Mezzaluna Springs developers ask for CDBG

BONIFAY – Developers of Mezzaluna Springs in Leonia in northern Holmes County requested a resolution of support for a Community Development Block Grant. The request was made to the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners at the BOCC’s regular meeting Tuesday morning.

Developers Linda Christy and Isabel Acosta were on hand to make the request for support for a $750,000 block grant to help fund infrastructure, including roads, for Phase I of the development. Phase I would include a 3,500-seat open-air arena, commercial development and some housing development.

Mezzaluna Springs is designed to provide affordable housing in an eco-friendly environment. The development is designed to attract business, including the arts, restaurants and other items according to the developers.

Christy said the BOCC would not be liable for any of the CDBG in the event the development does not pan out. She said that the developers are taking out a bond to cover such an eventuality. The CDBG would be awarded based on number of jobs created and other criteria.

CDBGs have to be administered by a branch of government under federal law, so the BOCC would administer the grant and disburse all funds.

County Attorney Brandon Young will review the request and if necessary the BOCC would call a special meeting to act on the resolution.

In other business, the BOCC:

•Approved low bid from Junction City Inc. for No. 57 rock for Federal Emergency Management Agency road repair projects. There was considerable discussion of ensuring that the rock meets FENA specifications, and Commissioners Jim King and Ron Monk voted against accepting the bid at this time.

•Heard Emergency Management Agency Director Wanda Stafford report that the County has received $1.212 million for FEMA projects out of $2.5 million obligated by the federal government

•Accepted low bid for turf mats for road projects from Evans and Company pending review by the county engineers

•Heard Emergency Management Service Director Jerome Szczekot report on the auditor’s report, progress on obtaining grants and completing electrical work at the New Hope EMS station so the emergency generator could be used for everything in the building. There was a considerable amount of cost cutting to complete the station and some of the electrical work remains to be completed to use the generator’s complete capabilities.

•Tabled bids for resurfacing the courthouse parking lot for further review

•Held the final meeting on the county road maintenance map. The updated map has all roads marked on it that are designated for county maintenance will be acted on by the BOCC in January.

•Heard that progress is being made devising a new County safety manual. Once the process is completed the County could save up to $10,000 in insurance costs