PY2025 Final Notice of Proposed Floodway Activity

Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a Floodway
To: All interested Agencies including all Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Groups
and Individuals
This is to give notice that Crawford County has conducted an evaluation as required by
Executive Order 11988, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C
Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management. The activity is funded
under the PY2025 Community Development Block grant Allocation Program under 25NR-
1AQ-25CDBG. The project includes replacing the approximately 48-foot pedestrian bridge in
Kelly Park to accommodate access from the village into the park. This project is considered
a functionally dependent project as it must be constructed in a floodway in order to perform
its intended purpose. The proposed project(s) is located in Kelly Park at 1000 Cross Street
in Crestline, Crawford County.
Crawford County has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to be
taken to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial
values: The bridge must be constructed in a floodway in order to perform its intended
purpose of allowing pedestrian access to the park, (ii) not replacing the bridge was
considered, but this limits safe pedestrian access to the park and results in environmental
damage from people crossing without the bridge, (iii) Consideration will be taken to protect
habitats during construction. Keeping pedestrians from crossing in the water will lessen
damage to banks for better erosion control, water quality maintenance, and habitat for
flora and fauna, Crawford County will monitor construction to ensure full compliance with
applicable standards, codes and requirements of Federal, State and Local agencies.
Crawford County has reevaluated the alternatives to building in the floodplain and has
determined that it has no practicable alternative. Environmental files that document
compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988 are available for public
inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last
paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments.
There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by
activities in floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural
environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide
information about these areas. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an
important public educational tool. The dissemination of information about floodplains can
facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associated with the occupancy and
modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal
government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must
inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Written comments must be received by Crawford County at the following address on or
before April 30, 2026: Crawford County, 112 E. Mansfield St., Suite 304
Bucyrus, Ohio and 419-562-5876, Attention: Leanna Gosser, Clerk, during the hours of
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Comments may also be submitted via email at
commissioners@crawford-co.org .
Date: April 23, 2026