Springdale City Council introduced an ordinance Wednesday, July 15 authorizing a new cooperation agreement with Hamilton County that would keep the city connected to federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
Ordinance No. 33-2026, introduced as a first reading with an emergency clause, would authorize Mayor Chuck Hawkins and City Administrator Brian Uhl to sign the agreement under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The emergency designation means the measure could take effect immediately upon passage rather than requiring a second reading.
The agreement ties Springdale into Hamilton County's CDBG program. The county receives approximately $3.8 million annually in federal CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a July 2026 Hamilton County press release. Eligible uses include housing rehabilitation, public facilities improvements, community services, and neighborhood revitalization for low- and moderate-income residents.
This is not new territory for Springdale. In December 2024, council unanimously approved a subrecipient grant agreement with Hamilton County under Ordinance No. 60-2024. "These dollars will be used for the senior lounge at the Rec Center to have some improvements there," Mayor Hawkins said at the December 18, 2024 meeting. "Some of the furniture and what have you is a little bit dated."
The new cooperation agreement's specific dollar amount and program cycle are not stated in the published agenda.
Zoning code overhaul advances
Councilman David Gleaves, reporting for the Zoning Code Revision Committee at the June 17 council meeting, said the committee had reviewed and recommended modifications to the planned unit development section and design guidelines. Gleaves told council the committee aimed to bring a draft to the Planning Commission in July and to full council in August.
The city engineer reported at the same June 17 meeting that the East Kemper Improvements Phase I Project is expected to begin in August 2026 on the south side of the sidewalk, and that the Northland Boulevard Reconstruction Project is substantially complete.
S.O.S. scholarships reward local volunteers
At the June 3 council meeting, Springdale Offering Support Treasurer Julie Tudor presented two scholarship awards to Springdale students. Kiyah Toller received $2,000 and will attend Miami University; Ben Howell received $4,000 and will attend Ohio State University.
"We decided this year that we were going to increase the dollar amounts hopefully to entice our number of applicants, which it did," Tudor told council on June 3. "We actually had six people apply this year."
Council President Jeff Anderson noted that fundraisers like the Santa 5K help fund the S.O.S. scholarships, which go to community members who volunteer and support Springdale.
Community calendar
- Saturday, July 25 — Tire amnesty event, 9 a.m. to noon, Springdale Public Works, 325 Northland Blvd. Free tire disposal for residents.
- Monday, July 27 — Deadline for Hamilton County CDBG Nonprofit Services Program applications. Grants range from $25,000 to $125,000 for eligible nonprofits. Details at hamiltoncountyohio.gov.
