WINDSOR – The Windsor Board of Commissioners took their first public steps toward applying for a three-quarters of a million dollar grant last week.

During the board’s regular meeting, commissioners held a public hearing to consider the ramifications of seeking a $750,000 grant under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

After declaring the public hearing open, Windsor Mayor Jim Hoggard called on Chris Hilbert of Holland and Associates to explain the project.

“The purpose of the public hearing is to entertain an applications for CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) assistance for FY 12,” he said. “We had someone from our office go to a workshop recently to talk about the funding that was going to come down and they are putting a lot of money into infrastructure this time.”

Hilbert said Dale Holland from Holland and Associates discussed the grant applications with members of the town staff and the town engineer to identify potential projects.

“At this point, what we’re looking at potentially is replacing the lift station near the Food Lion shopping center in Windsor Village and a sewer line that comes down Taylor Street,” Hilbert said. “We’ve asked the engineer to do a preliminary engineering report to identify cost.”

He said Public Works Director William Coburn had identified those two areas as needs, but the town needs to find out a cost so they can find out how much of it can be addressed.

“There’s the potential for $750,000 there,” Hilbert added.

He also said the town was sending out surveys to find out if the project would meet the requirements.

“We do need to make sure it is a low to moderate income area,” he said. “Seventy-six percent of the people would have to be low to moderate income. We feel like Windsor Village will help with that.”

Commissioner David Overton asked if the grants were for existing infrastructure or if it could build new lines. Hilbert said it could be used either way.

He also asked if there was a requirement of a match from the town.

“We’re not proposing a match at this time,” Hilbert said. “You’re in a Tier 1 county, so that helps. We’re waiting to see how critical the need is, but obviously a critical need would help the project.”

Hilbert said there would be another public hearing in September or October before the application was submitted at the end of October.