Williams County commissioners approve beginning the process of setting up plans for improving housing in Kunkle.

The Williams County commissioners approve beginning the process of setting up plans for improving housing in Kunkle, and may expand to Alvordton in the future. The commissioners met with Dennis Miller of Maumee Valley Planning Organization and Williams County Engineer Todd Roth to discuss setting up a Community Reinvestment Area for Kunkle, which would provide tax abatements for those improving properties in that area. Miller says the first step would be to conduct a housing survey in the area and then send that to the state. There is also a 70-page report that includes census statistics for the area, along with pictures of homes. He added the tax abatement can be up to 100%, but many entities do 75. Property owners need to apply to the county for the abatements once the CRA is established. A housing officer would handle the applications, and he suggested Williams County Economic Development Corp to fill that role. The commissioners would have final approval on the applications.