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Village hands out
$43,000 in CDBG funds

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      A total of $43,000 was dispersed this year by the Village of Romeo Board of Trustees through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
       The board unanimously approved of distributing funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to non-profit community groups as well as village projects, such as for manhole repairs.
       New CDBG funds for the village totaled $33,000, while previous funds that haven't been spent were tallied at $10,000.
       Representatives from the non-profits and other entities requesting funding were allowed to speak about what they do. Cathy Gordon, program director of Care House, said it has helped about three families in the Romeo area with child victims of sexual and physical abuse.
       "Care House receives no direct funding and families are never charged for service fees," she said.
       The board approved of using $500 in unallocated funds to fulfill the request.
       The Samaritan House received $5,000 for providing basic needs to low-income residents, such as food and emergency assistance with utility bills.
       The Macomb County Community Services Agency (MCCSA), that recently established an office in the Samaritan House, received $1,190 to fund a project that aims to track and eliminate homelessness.
       Similarly, the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) received $3,000 for providing emergency shelter and related services to prevent homelessness in the county.
       The other non-profits the board supported focus on fighting homelessness as well, such as the Community Housing Network and Solid Ground homeless shelter. They received $1,500 and $3,500 respectively.
       In regard to local projects, a total of $15,774 was dedicated to rehabilitating manhole covers in the village. Unallocated and previous project funds were used to boost the original $10,274 amount. Village Clerk Marian McLaughlin said it would mainly fix up those on the east side of Van Dyke and would be handled in-house.
       The Romeo District Library received $3,536 to reconstruct the porch at the Kezar Library, which is estimated to cost $10,610.
       "You gave us money last year, we postponed the project start to make sure that we're doing the ramp the best we possibly can, and we discovered that to do it better, we need more money," said M.E. Harper, library director.
       The Starkweather Arts Center also requested and received $4,000 in funding for electrical upgrades to the kitchen and office areas, as well as improving its garden pathway. Unallocated funds were used for the request.
       The Parks and Recreation Department received $5,000 to continue its senior CHORE program. The program assists 36 families with snow and ice removal, lawn cleanup and handyman projects.