Improvements are forthcoming to the village of DeGraff municipal building following procurement of a large grant to modernize the building and to make it more handicap-accessible.
Council learned Tuesday in a regular meeting the village has been awarded a $40,000 Community Development Block Grant towards ADA-compliant improvements to the municipal building, 107 S. Main St.
Improvements to be paid for by the grant include installation of wheelchair accessible ramps at all entry/exit points and widening the office hallway.
The grant will help open up the building’s floor plan and make it more accessible to residents, council members said.
Village officials estimate the project to be done sometime next summer.
Separate grant funding will pay for a number of additional upgrades at the village park, including some more handicap-accessible improvements.
A $7,250 grant from the Squirrel Linet memorial funds will be used to replace siding on one shelter house, purchase a new bike rack, replace the water fountain, as well as pay to have lap belts installed on the merry-go-round to make it more ADA compliant.
Funds totaling $14,786 from a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation grant will be directed to the fire department to purchase a gear washer, as well as gloves and hoods for firefighters, Fiscal Officer Kassie Staley reported.
The next regular meeting is 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3.