PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GRANT APPLICATIONS … The Maumee Valley Planning Organization presented three CDBG grant applications to the commissioners, with a formal public hearing to be held on May 19, 2026.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners met on April 7, 2026, to support the Williams County Health Department’s application to renew its Drug-Free Communities grant.
This would mark the second cycle of the county receiving the federally funded grant, which operates on a five-year term. The health department is seeking a renewal to continue its participation in the program.
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the CDC.
It provides up to $125,000 annually to support efforts aimed at preventing youth substance abuse. Currently, six of the county’s seven school districts participate in programs alongside the health department.
Funding supports a range of initiatives, including leadership programs, suicide awareness events and yellow ribbon campaigns.
Coalition Coordinator Bethany Coutz of ECHO, or Educating Communities on Healthy Opportunities, spoke about several programs supported through the grant.
The initiative’s primary goal is to reduce youth substance use and, through early intervention, decrease substance use into adulthood.
Even parent education nights at local schools are supported through the initiative. “It’s just another opportunity to provide parents that education piece about how you should talk to your students about substance use and mental health, and how those things are connected and impacted,” said Coutz.
The commissioners moved for a motion to support the health department’s grant renewal application. A formal resolution will be signed at a later date.
The Williams County Commissioners then met again on April 9, 2026, to discuss Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project applications for 2026.
The Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO) presented three CDBG applications for West Unity, Pioneer and 119 South Beech Street in Bryan.
West Unity has applied for a pump station replacement at its South Liberty location, at the corner of South Liberty Street and County Road K. The current station is over 50 years old and in poor condition.
The structure will need a major replacement for reliable service. “Failure of the pump station may result in sanitary sewer backups which represent a public health risk,” the MVPO narrative reads.
“The existing pump station does not meet current design standards which represent a health and safety hazard.” Additionally, West Unity plans to purchase a trailer-mounted suction-lift pump for the replaced station.
The total project is estimated to cost $528,500. The village is asking for $264,100 from the residential public infrastructure grant.
Pioneer has requested critical infrastructure grant funds for street reconstruction on South Elm Street and Church Street.
However, there are no current openings available for this grant and the village will have to reapply in 2027. Only three critical infrastructure grant projects can be open at a time. Currently, the city of Bryan, the village of Montpelier and Pulaski Township have open projects for 2026-2027.
Pioneer’s project includes reconstruction of existing street pavement, including full-depth pavement removal, new stone base with asphalt pavement, and new concrete curbs and gutters. Storm sewer and waterline replacements are planned as well.
Estimated at a cost of $1,060,990.15, Pioneer is requesting the full $500,000 allocated by the critical infrastructure grant.
Inspiring Hope Counseling has requested grant funds through the FLEX Downtown program. Located at 119 South Beech Street in Bryan, the project will include building improvements.
Repairs to the freight elevator, a new three-story staircase and the construction of a fire suppression system are the project’s scope. It is estimated to cost $226,700 in total. A formal hearing for the project applications is scheduled with the MVPO for May 19, 2026.
In other business, the commissioners approved a resolution submitted by the MVPO. It involves a programmatic agreement between the county and the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office for Administration of Programs.
HUD-allocated funds with delegated review responsibilities are authorized at no cost. County EMS Chief Kyle Brigle requested a credit card limit increase for the EMS department.
The limit was approved to be increased from $1,000 to $1,500. Their scheduling software, Sling, amounts to $1,200, and the credit limit needed to be raised to accommodate the cost.