After an hour of deliberation, the Law and Community Planning Committee decided Thursday night to use Community Development Block Grant funds for working on a streetscape project along most of East Market Street to Heidelberg University.
Tiffin is looking at spending $186,000 of the CDBG fund, including a state mandated $46,000, which comes out of the city's revolving loan fund, according to Mayor Aaron Montz.
The committee decided against using the money for paving roads, and wanted funds to have a more "lasting impact."
The committee said it would take legislation before City Council for the cityscape project using a separate revenue line for this "economic development and beautification."
"Market Street streetscape, South River Road trail repavement and redoing Jefferson and Circular streets were my top three choices in order," Montz said.
"The most practical project is something we can save money in the future," Councilman Joe Hartzell said.
"To streetscape down Heidelberg, it brightens up the area and makes the former junior high property (more attractive); maybe somebody buys the former BP Station that maybe someone will buy that property, and there is talk that Heidelberg will put in a bookstore downtown," Montz said.
This project would leave little money for other projects, he said.
In other business, the committee heard from Architecture Board of Review member Theresa Sullivan, who asked the city to enforce a fine for businesses that violate the sign code.
The committee is preparing legislation to go before Council to allow City Engineer Curtis Eagle to enforce fines.
The committee heard alternative proposals.
Councilman Tyler Shuff and Tony Consolo gave a presentation on the Tiffin trail system before the committee.
The trail would connect existing bicycle trails in Tiffin.
"Our proposal is to stripe roads, put in signs to make cars aware they need to share the road with the bikers and improve on existing trails that are not on the road," Consolo said.
Consolo said this would improve upon the current paths used by bicyclists and stripe some of Water Street.
The committee said it would commit to the streetscaping project, but suggested an alternative option of repaving a walking path from South River Road to Benner Street, the committee agreed may be a contingency plan.
