Madison Baseball request denied because it didn't meet guidelines

MANSFIELD, Ohio – Richland County Commissioners approved several Community Development Block Grant activities for Fiscal Year 2015, but were unable to approve funding for a request from the Madison Baseball Federation.

Jotika Shetty, Executive Director of the Richland County Regional Planning Commission, said the Regional Planning Commission was unable to recommend funding for the Madison Baseball Federation’s request because the leagues are open to all residents, so the organization was not automatically income-qualified.

To qualify for CDBG funding, the money must be used to help low- or moderate-income people. Shetty said that to receive CDBG funding, it must be proved that 51 percent of the target population is LMI (Low or Moderate Income).

“In the case you are not able to do that and you still think the majority of your clients are low or moderate income, then the state allows you to do what is called an income survey. But it has very strict standards on how those have to be conducted,” Shetty said.

Wayne Lautzenhiser from the Madison Baseball Federation said the league is looking to raise money to install lights on the softball field because of the increase in the number of girls interested in softball.

“We’re getting more girls involved. More girls want to play softball, but we only have one softball field. By putting lights on that field, we gain another softball field,” Lautzenhiser said.

Lautzenhiser told commissioners he is working hard to get funding from many sources to help pay for the lighting project. Lautzenhiser said in less than one month, they have raised $1,300 through fundraisers and have many more planned. He said they have received an estimate of $60,000 for the project from Dublin-based Musco Lighting.

“I just want to see lights on that softball field,” Lautzenhiser said.

The commissioners explained to Lautzenhiser that they were unable to approve funding for the project because of the federal guidelines that regulate the grants.

“I value this type of field highly but we are limited on what we can do specifically with these grant dollars,” Commissioner Marilyn John told Lautzenhiser.

“If we were even to somehow find some money out of this to give to this project, it has to be done within the year you are given the money, and you’re saying you’re only $1,200 or $1,500 into a $60,000 project, so if we were to even give you any money it would not serve you,” Commissioner Gary Utt Sr. explained.

Projects that were approved include: