By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
A portion of more than $300,000 in federal coronavirus pandemic relief funding will help Madison Township residents in need who are struggling with rent and utility payments.
“Within the guidelines, we have the ability to assist residents with delinquent utility and rent,” said Madison Township Administrator Susan Brobst. “After a lot of discussion with the board and human needs agencies (we decided) to offer some of our CARES Act money to human needs agencies. Both programs require that residents have to pay some of the money for the delinquent bills. The agencies have to follow the same guidelines we follow.”
On March 27 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) was signed into law providing nationwide funding and on June 19 Governor Mike Dewine signed legislation providing a formula to distribute funds across the state.
Madison Township received a little over $372,000 in CARES act funding to assist with COVID19-related expenses and has until the end of the year to use the funds.
The township is dedicating a portion of the money to grants to Canal Winchester Human Services and Groveport Madison Human Needs to assist with delinquent rent and utility bills for Madison Township residents.
Township residents who live in a municipality or unincorporated area who need financial assistance as a result of COVID19 should contact Canal Winchester Human Services at 614-834-4700 or aletha.cwhs@gmail.com or Groveport Madison Human Needs at 614-586-4017 or info@gmhn.org.
In addition, Brobst said the township can offer grant programs in local schools as part of the distribution of CARES Act funding.
“I’m glad to see this money can go to good use in benefitting our residents in need,” said Madison Township Trustee Michele Reynolds.
Other township news
•The township fire department received more than $355,000 grant to purchase new breathing apparatus for firefighters and a pair of building exhaust capture systems.
•Franklin County Auditor representative Samuel Runta said the county is in the midst of a triennial property review that could see property values rise an average of 20 percent.
“We’re looking at a pretty significant jump in property values,” Runta said, and added his office hopes to mail the letters indicating new property values by the end of the month.
“None of this is final,” said Runta, who noted residents have a period in which they can provide documentation opposing the county’s valuation.
Trustee Chairman John Pritchard said if an owner feels their property was overvalued, they should contest the amount with the county.
“I’ve done it twice and both times I had the value reduced,” said Pritchard. “I would recommend to anyone to go through that process.”
•With the township’s Local Waste contract extension expiring at the end of the year, the trustees are considering whether to extend the contract again or moving forward with a contract negotiated by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio.
Currently, residents pay $18.54 a month with an additional $3 fee for container rental, a $1.50 or 10 percent senior discount and a $100 CFC removal fee.
“We have some options moving forward,” said Brobst. “By the end of September, the board will have to make some decisions.”
