The Clean Ohio Council rebuffed a request Wednesday to provide $3 million for Middletown Regional Hospital's proposed demolition.

The council during a Wednesday hearing approved 15 brownfield redevelopment projects across the state totaling $41.2 million. The projects still need the Controlling Board's approval.

The council ended Wednesday's session with $1.8 million in its coffers. While the group typically carries unspent cash into the next year, the Butler County Port Authority still could lobby the council for the money at its Oct. 30 meeting, said Nikki Jaworski, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Development.

Initially, the council selected 14 projects that it would fully fund, leaving proposals from Middletown and Sebring to vie for $2.9 million, Jaworski said. Then the group in a 6-2 vote opted to pour $1.1 million into the Sebring project, giving that community its full request, Jaworski said.

Rep. Dale Miller, D-Cleveland, and Rep. Bill Seitz,.R-Cincinnati, wanted to provide Butler County with $2.9 million and voted against the Sebring project, Jaworski said.

It's unclear what the council's decision means for the proposed Middletown Regional Hospital redevelopment. John Fonner, the port authority's director, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Later this year, Middletown Regional Hopsital will move operations into Atrium Medical Center on the city's east end. Once MRH goes dark next year, plans call for an $8 million demolition of the hospital to make way for condominiums.
The port authority sought the state funds on Middletown's behalf.