STEUBENVILLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved the city's 2009 Community Development Block Grant funds, Urban Projects Director Chris Petrossi announced Monday.

"HUD will be setting up a line of credit for us totalling $748,243 that we will draw down from as our projects start," Petrossi told the planning and zoning commission Monday at its regular monthly meeting.

Petrossi said projects in the 2009 consolidated plan update include street rehabilitation, a video surveillance system, demolitions, fair housing and program administration costs.

"This is a reflection on the fine job you and your staff do every day," said William Hendricks, chairman of the planning and zoning commission.

In other business, Petrossi said all demolition work scheduled under the 2008 CDBG funding program has been completed.

"We are now working on a list of demolitions using the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The city expects to receive $363,566 for demolition work," explained Petrossi.

City officials have advertised for 33 residential bids, with RSV Inc. entering the low bid on 15 properties.

West End Excavating entered a single low bid, and X-treme Klean has low bids on two condemned properties, officials noted. Also, Mike Pusateri entered low bids on two properties, and C & D Disposal was the low bidder on five properties in the city.

Demolition bids were not accepted on eight dilapidated properties, it was noted.

Petrossi also told the planning commission the street rehabilitation program under the 2008 CDBG program with additional funding from the CDBG Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now 95 percent complete.