Adena steps project advances for state grant

Councilmember RJ Konkoleski presented a letter from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association stating it had approved a priority list for recommended grants through the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Governor’s Office of Appalachia.

“Your project, Adena’s historic steps, trail-to-downtown connection, has emerged as recommended to the Governor’s Office of Appalachia,” Konkoleski read. “We are pleased to share that this $250,000 grant request will move forward from its pre-application to a full application.”

Konkoleski described it as very good news for Adena, saying the project would extend improvements nearly to Hanna Avenue, just short of the bridge. He said the bridge is in disrepair and contractors do not want to work on it for fear of being blamed “for the bad work that was done by the county.”

“We’re going to have to do something. It’s on my list,” he told council. “I mean, the sidewalk, it’s a tripping hazard right now.”

Konkoleski said the village cannot access the funds until March 2027. He said there is a matching requirement for the $250,000 grant but added the village would be able to count trail grant funds toward the match. He explained the village may have to contribute a few thousand dollars, but not an enormous amount.

Konkoleski also discussed using St. Casimir Field, an area donated by the church, to possibly host Heritage Days. When Mayor Brenda Roski asked why the village does not currently use the field, discussion shifted briefly before Konkoleski continued, saying there were many people who would like to see “events back at that festival field.”

“I think we need to go up to that festival field,” he said. “I think we need a little subcommittee.”

He acknowledged that power and lighting have been installed there, but asked what it would take to host events, bring in a Ferris wheel, utilize the shelters and place vendors on the electrical service that has been installed. He said it likely would take a budget in the six figures to restore the area to a festival-ready condition, including making a kitchen operational and providing water service.

“But why not?” he asked. “If we had those numbers, maybe we could apply for something and try to get that going. But we don’t even know what we need, and everything in there is 50 years old and no good.”

Konkoleski suggested developing a plan and imagining the possibilities for hosting farmers markets, flea markets and other festivals, not just Heritage Days.

“We got the property for nothing,” he said. “It wouldn’t be dumb for us to invest money in it.”