The Blanchester Downtown Development Committee recently received a $23,000 NatureWorks grant to be used in the development of a park at a downtown Blanchester parking lot located behind the National Bank & Trust.

Chris Schock, executive director of the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission, who attended the Thursday night meeting of Blanchester Village Council, said his office applied for the grant. He said the money will be disbursed through the Clinton County Foundation of which he is a board member.

Schock said NatureWorks grants provide up to 75 percent reimbursement assistance to local government subdivisions, which includes villages. For the project to continue, Schock said council must provide 25 percent of the grant funds and the foundation will reimburse the village 23 percent of the money.

One of the stipulations for the grant was that the Downtown Development Committee needed to raise provide 23 percent of the grant money. For several months, the committee has been holding a monthly breakfast and lunch, along with other activities, to raise money for the park development.

“We confirmed the plan is okay with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources,” Schock said. “You can change the plan or add to the plans.”

One of the stipulations of the project is that some green space must be instituted in the development, said Elizabeth Nichols, a member of council and the Downtown Development Committee.

Cindy Sutton, also a member of council, asked Schock if he could produce bank statements to assure council the money is available for the project. Schock said a statement is available. “It (funds deposited) is subject to market fluctuation. It is invested through the National Bank & Trust,” he said.

Blanchester Mayor Chad Hollon said the deadline for using the NatureWorks grant is June 30, 2010.

Schock said an extension could “probably” be obtained if needed.

At the August council meeting, the first reading was given to an ordinance to change the speed limit on all alleys in the village to 10 miles per hour. Andrew McCoy, village solicitor, said he has since checked the Ohio Revised Code and it specifies the speed limit on all alleyways in Ohio is 15 miles per hour.

Street Commissioner Wayne Clifton told council he does not have any 15-miles-per-hour speed limit signs in stock, but he does have one sign for a 5-mile-per-hour speed limit and several 10 miles-per-hour signs. “They are $30 apiece,” he said.

After some discussion, council decided to table the resolution.

The decision to change the speed limit of all alleys in the village came about after council considered changing the speed limit of an alley near the downtown area. If council planned to change the speed limit of the one alley, Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt suggested setting a 10 miles-per-hour speed limit in all alleys so they are all the same.

Problems with the roof on the municipal building were also addressed. The village previously had someone check the roof after gravel stopped up drains in the basement of the building. Possible repairs to the roof were separated into three phases. The first was to repair the roof where gravel came off, a cost estimated at $45,000 at the time. Work to repair a second phase was estimated at $4,550. Clifton said the third section, which is over the hallways and the police department, “is bubbling up” and also needs to be repaired.

After some discussion, council approved a resolution for Clifton to go out for bids for repairing all three sections. Hollon said bids should be obtained for village employees to remove the gravel from the roof and with the company bidding on the project doing the removal.

Water problems on Sean Circle in the Creekside Estate subdivision also were discussed. Hollon said Sean Circle is not a dedicated street. Because it is not a dedicated street, the water problem is the responsibility of the property owners, he said.

It was suggested that letters be sent to all property owners on Sean Circle, but councilman David Wallace said he “will be happy to meet with the property owners to explain it to them.”

In his parks department report, Paul Jackson gave an update on plans for the new concession building and rest rooms at the park. He told council Cliff Prewitt, owner of Prewitt Plumbing and Heating in Blanchester and a former village councilman, is donating his time for the project.

A safety committee meeting has been set for Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building.