Public hearing: consultant urges St. Bernard to prioritize paving projects for CDBG application

The Village of St. Bernard held a second public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant program where JMA Consulting’s Jennifer Vatter reviewed program rules, eligibility and timing.

Vatter said the program operates on three‑year funding cycles (2024–26), is administered through Hamilton County for jurisdictions outside Cincinnati and generally targets projects that benefit low‑ and moderate‑income persons. She said the village has received roughly $130,000 in prior funding and that the consultant’s recommendation is to apply for a single project when possible because it simplifies administration and delivers more impact.

On project types, Vatter said roadwork (roadway improvements) is commonly funded and, if desired, the application can describe a roadway within an eligible census block group without naming a specific street. She noted that some streets the council might expect to be eligible fall outside mapped census block groups; in those cases the village could perform an income survey to demonstrate eligibility, though surveys take extra time.

Vatter said applications were due the coming Tuesday and that if council did not decide at the meeting she would need a firm direction by Monday morning to meet submission timelines. Several council members discussed prioritizing paving—citing work already underway on Kemper and Church—and noted some needed streets (for example Tower Avenue) fall outside eligible areas and would require local funding.

The mayor closed the hearing after no members of the public offered comment. Staff said, if the village chooses to apply for a paving project, they would likely target funding for a 2025 or 2026 cycle to avoid a compressed timeline for bidding and completion.

Next steps: council must decide whether to direct staff to file an application for a paving project and, if needed, authorize an income survey or local match for streets outside eligible block groups.