Project Status: Planning, Land Acquisition & Funding Preparation

The Village of Payne continues to make progress toward its Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Improvement Project, a major infrastructure investment aimed at ensuring a safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking water supply for residents.

The Village has successfully completed its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) income surveys, with results showing that 61% of Village residents qualify as low-to-moderate income (LMI). This is an important milestone that establishes the Village's income eligibility for certain grant funding opportunities and strengthens its ability to pursue financial assistance for critical infrastructure improvements.

Currently, the Village is finalizing the acquisition of the remaining land necessary to establish a third water well, as required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Once the land acquisition is complete, the Village can move forward with drilling the third well and conducting water quality testing.

The results of the water testing will be a critical factor in finalizing the Water Treatment Plant design. Testing will determine whether the currently proposed treatment system is sufficient to properly treat water from the new well or whether additional modifications to the design will be necessary.

Once land acquisition, well drilling, water testing, and final design evaluations are complete, the Village intends to pursue additional funding through the Residential Public Infrastructure Grant (RPIG) program and the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) program to help finance the remaining project costs.

The Village remains committed to securing available grant and low-interest loan funding to minimize the financial burden on residents while addressing necessary water infrastructure improvements and meeting Ohio EPA requirements.

This project continues to be a priority for the Village of Payne as we work toward providing dependable, high-quality drinking water for current residents and future generations.

1. Welcome Home Ohio -
   1. This funding is to assist with NEW BUILD or REHAB projects to help income qualified families establish homeownership. 
   2. What we are looking for:
      1. Homes that are in need of rehab that are for sale
      2. Vacant lots to build new homes on 
   3. The Land Bank must own the property during the rehab and must sell the property to an income eligible buyer who will maintain that home as their primary residence
   4. Defiance and Paulding have funding secured in 2024. Eligible buyers must make 80% of the area median income to qualify. ALL counties are interested in submitting applications in 2026. The income threshold is increased to 120% of the area median income to qualify. Income limits are attached for your reference. 
   5. Primary Manager: Estee Blair eblair@mvpo.org and Grady Vogel, gvogel@mvpo.org

2. Demolition of Residential and Commercial Properties
   1. Each County will be receiving another set aside of funding for blight cleanup in 2026! These funds will likely be coming in late 2026/early 2027. 
   2. Some counties even have funds leftover from 2024 and may be able to complete demos by the Spring of 2026.
   3. Properties must be vacant and blighted to qualify. Commercial/non-brownfield properties are eligible. "Ag only" buildings are not currently eligible BUT we are lobbying to change that and still encourage submission. 
   4. Application must be received by the current owner. If ownership is going to be transferred, we can work with the potential new owner. Owners may maintain ownership throughout the entire demolition process. 
   5. We need your help identifying projects. Please provide contact information (phone numbers or emails preferred!) to our office or deliver the attached packet to potential applicants. 
   6. Primary Manager: Abby White, awhite@mvpo.org
       
3. Brownfield Remediation 
   1. Each County will be receiving another set aside of funding for Brownfield cleanup in 2026!
   2. Properties that have not been assessed through a Phase I and Phase II can receive OH EPA Targeted Brownfield Assessment money. We need to get these submitted ASAP to best position us to apply for ODOD Brownfield Cleanup money in 2026!
   3. Application must be received by the current owner. If ownership is going to be transferred, we can work with the potential new owner. Owners may maintain ownership throughout the entire demolition process. 
   4. If you have a potential Brownfield that needs assessed or remediated, please provide contact information to our office. 
   5. Primary Manager: Estee Blair, eblair@mvpo.org 

4. Community Development Block Grant Update
   1. Unrelated to your county's land bank, but did want to provide an update on CDBG. 
   2. The 2025 Applications are still being reviewed by the state, but we anticipate awards will be made in the next few weeks. 
   3. As always, we will host Public Hearing number 1 in each county ~January of 2026. Applications will be due locally in the Spring, with the State application to be due in June. 
   4. Paulding and Henry County will have their "Allocation" year
   5. As always, it is best to start thinking of your CDBG projects early. 
   6. Primary Manager: Lorenzo Zamora, lzamora@mvpo.org 

Project Status: Completed

The Village of Payne has successfully completed the Orchard Street Sidewalk Improvement Project, providing a safer and more accessible pedestrian route along Orchard Street from Maple Street to the Flat Rock Creek Apartments.

The $110,000 project was made possible through $71,300 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and a $38,700 contribution from the Village of Payne. Flat Rock Concrete was awarded the construction contract in June 2025.

The project included the construction of a new sidewalk and associated improvements to enhance pedestrian safety, accessibility, and connectivity for Orchard Street residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

The completed improvements address an important infrastructure need by providing residents with a safer designated walking route and improving access between residential areas.

This project supports the Village of Payne's continued commitment to investing in infrastructure, improving accessibility, and creating a safer, more walkable community. It also complements other pedestrian safety initiatives throughout the Village, including improvements supported through the Safe Routes to School program.

The Village of Payne appreciates the support of the Community Development Block Grant program, the Paulding County Commissioners, Kleinfelder Engineers and Maumee Valley Planning Organization in helping make this important community improvement possible.

The Village of Payne will begin a waterline replacement project on West Townline Street, between Foraker and Gibson Streets, shortly after Labor Day, with construction expected to last 6–8 weeks. During this time, traffic may be reduced to a single lane and occasional temporary water shutoffs will be necessary to complete main connections, with advance notice provided through IRIS. The project, awarded to Fenson, will cost-$329,000, funded in part by a $195,305 Ohio Public Works Commission grant, with the remaining balance covered by a Village loan at zero interest. We appreciate residents’ patience and cooperation as this project was constructed. We also appreciate OPWC for their support in the project and to Kleinfelder Engineers for assisting in writing the grant and the designs for the project. 

The Village of Payne has applied for grant dollars from both Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Ohio Department of Development Grant(ODOD) / House Bill 168 and Ohio Public Works Commission Grant (OPWC) to replace waterlines on West Oak, West Merrin and East Merrin. The project includes removing lead service lines and replacing all the water lines in those areas as well as new fire hydrants. The project also included replacing our old water meters with all new digital water meters for the entire village. Below is the grant dollar breakdown for those projects and the Village's Investment in the project.

The Payne Fire Department recieved a grant from the Paulding County Marshall Memorial Foundation to purchase F500 Encapsulating Foam that helps stop farm fires and fires involving electric vehicles. Electric vehicles require special foam to stop the fires and the prior foam the fire department had was found to have cancerous agents in it. The state recalled that foam and so the department was tasked with finding a new, safer alternative; however the cost was much more. This mandated change effected most of the fire departments in the area so through a joint effort the Paulding County EMA Director Jay Klopfenstien, and the local departments, a joint grant was approved and all of the departments received the new, and safer foam. Pictured below is Fire Chief Jesse Heffner with the F500 Encapsulating Foam. 

The Village of Payne applied for and received $20,000 from the Paulding County Area Foundation for stationary exercise equipment that was added to the Payne Community Park. The exercise equipment is part of a longer project that the village is working on to create a walkable village with connective walking paths throughout the entire community, including the park. The village matched that grant and invested nearly $20,000 into the pavillion that is available to residents to rent out for special events. The improvements included roof repairs and resurfacing and redoing all of the siding. The building was created at the parks inception in 1972 which was in celebration of Payne's 150th Annivarsary. 

Congratulations to the Wayne Trace Local Schools Art Technology students on honoring veterans of Payne, Grover Hill, Latty, Haviland, and Scott. The students gathered the information on the veterans and then designed and printed the banners. 220 veterans' banners were in place for this Memorial Day. Job well done! Pictured Below: Congressman Latta, Art Teacher Mrs. Stokes, Student: Hunter Lyons, Emma Stouffer & Keegan Sharp.

The Village of Payne received a $20,000 grant through the Paulding County Vision Board for a quality of life improvement project. The Village had land donated by the owner at the corner of Orchard St. and Maple St. Initially the Village tried to work with ODOT to expand the road to make it easier to navigate the intersection but ODOT declined the project. Then the Village decided to invest in the land through a grant and turn it into a memorial for our local Veterans.