The Town of Jonesville held an initial public hearing at Monday’s Town Hall Meeting addressing a proposed Community Development Block Grant application.

In 2009 the Town applied for a Community Development Block Grant to rehabilitate 21 houses, replace 1,600 feet of sewer lines, resurface 1,600 feet of streets, and replace 280 feet of storm drainage pipe. All of these improvements were to be located on Cherry Street.

Town staff is now proposing that the Town Council authorize submitting a new application for this project. Carolina Governmental Services has agreed to prepare and submit the application for no cost to the Town.

Monday night’s public hearing was held to hear if any citizens had suggestions of areas they wanted to be investigated as potential areas for the Community Development Block Grant. There were no comments from the public, and the Town plans to hold a second public hearing.

During the meeting, Council member Gene Purdue suggested that Cemetery Drive was also an area in need.

“Now, we’re currently looking at two areas to concentrate on,” said Town Manager Scott Buffkin. “One is the Cherry Street area for housing rehabilitation, street resurfacing and sewer. The second area is Cemetery Drive. Cemetery Drive is an un-sewered area of town, so we’re considering doing sewer work there. We have a group that’s investigating it for us and will be making recommendations about what area qualifies.”

According to the Community Development Block Grant, the areas that receive the grant must have low to moderate income residents. This will be a determining factor in what areas will qualify.

Buffkin said there will be another public hearing in the next two months and then the town council will be authorized to submit an application. “It will probably be several months before we find out if the grant application has been funded,” he said.

Reach Darcie Dyer at 835-1513 or ddyer@heartlandpublications.com.