ASHLAND — The City of Ashland intends to apply for grant funding that could allow the purchase of a new 14-passenger vehicle for Ashland Public Transit.
Ashland City Council approved filing applications with the Ohio Department of Transportation for grants through the US DOT federal transit administration, formula grants for rural areas and the Ohio Transit Partnership Program.
If maximum funding is attained, Ashland Public Transit’s budget could increase to $813,000 in 2021 from $791,000 in 2020, allowing the city to expand its transportation services for only an extra $976 in local funding.
“There are three different grants we’re applying for, and when you add them all up, our local share is minimal,” Mayor Matt Miller said.
The total anticipated local match in 2021 is $144,329, he said, and even this could potentially be covered. One of the three grants the city is applying for helps cover local dollars often required to match other state and federal grant funding.
Another of the grants is used primarily to cover operating expenses, and the other could allow the city to purchase a second 14-passenger vehicle. The city’s fleet of vans currently includes only one other 14-passenger van; the other vehicles are smaller in size.
As Ashland Public Transits sees more small group seeking public transportation, an additional 14-passenger vehicle could better accommodate ride requests from the community, Miller said.
The city’s transit system has remained operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with additional precautions in-place.
“There’s still folks who need to get to the grocery store and medical appointments,” Miller said.
In other news at Tuesday evening’s meeting:
Ashland will resurface portions of Union Avenue, West 10th and East 8th streets
With city council’s blessing, the City of Ashland plans to resurface portions of West 10th Street, East 8th Street and Union Avenue this summer.
Ashland City Council approved legislation Tuesday to allow the mayor and director of public service to advertise and enter bids for the projects, which will be primarily covered by the 2020 Community Development Block Grant.
The city plans to repave West 10th Street from Cottage to Troy streets, East 8th Street from Union Avenue to the dead end and Union Avenue from East 8th to Orange streets. All were characterized by “deteriorated and in need of repair” in the ordinance.
The engineer’s estimated cost of repaving the streets is $185,000, and the grant typically covers $150,000, Mayor Miller said. He’s optimistic that the $185,000 estimate is high.
Fire Department will gain one more captain for additional cost of $7,500
Council approved a change in personnel at the Ashland Fire Department.
The ordinance passed Tuesday evening allows the department to have seven captain, instead of the current six.
It does not permit hiring a new employee, but rather allows one less firefighter role to compensate for the new captain.
The position is being “reclassified,” and cost an additional $7,000 to $7,500, as captains are a higher paying role.
It’s believed a current firefighter will be promoted to the captain position, Miller said. It will prepare an individual to lead the new fire station at the intersection of U.S. 42 and Mifflin Avenue.
Council approves tax incentive for J & H Lawncare & Snowplowing
Council unanimously approved a 10-year, 50-percent tax incentive on the increased value of an anticipated project for J & H Lawncare & Snowplowing.
The longtime Ashland business, located at 2416 Rock Road, requested the community reinvestment area tax incentive for a proposed 4,608-square-foot building at its current site. The project is estimated to cost $150,000.
According to Miller, this will more than double the size of the structure that the business moved into in 2002. The owners had improved the property and expanded the originally 4,000-square-foot building prior to this without any incentives.
“It’s an opportunity to assist one of our locally grown companies,” Miller said.
