A. Participation in a cost share plan is conditioned on the availability of cost share program funds allocated to the programs in question by the Village Board. If funds are not available to pay for the Village's share of implementing cost share programs requested by applicants, the Village Board may restrict acceptance of applications to only certain of the cost share programs. Completed applications for each cost share program shall be considered in the order in which received. The Village Board at any time may modify or cancel the availability of cost share programs without liability to any unapproved applicants. Approval of an applicant means a permit has been issued for a cost share program. While each cost share program is available one time only for a given property, an owner may participate in more than one (1) cost share program; however, participation in a cost share program may be conditioned on satisfactory completion of another cost share program (e.g., removal of invasive plants may be required before native plant seeding).
B. The Village Ecologist is directed to develop and disseminate cost share program requirements that describe the purpose of each cost share program and the requirements for participation and reimbursement, but such cost share program requirements are subject to the provisions of this chapter, which shall be controlling in the event of any conflict.
C. The property on which the cost share program will be implemented must have an approved cost share plan. An applicant's participation in a cost share program will become effective only upon issuance by the Village of a cost share permit (which shall include a tree removal permit when canopy thinning is allowed). Each cost share permit shall be approved by the Village President and will include a copy of the applicable cost share program requirements. Permits will be issued for one (1) year from the date of issuance or for the time required to complete multi-year cost share practices. Upon receipt of a cost share permit, the applicant is required to complete the cost share practices within the indicated time period. The Village may revoke any cost share permit if the applicant fails to complete the cost share practices required by the permit or within the time period; however, permits may be extended for good cause shown.
D. All cost share practices, to be reimbursable, must be undertaken only after a cost share plan is approved by the Village Ecologist. Cost share reimbursement will be available only if the cost share practices have been performed by qualified contractors strictly in accordance with the approved cost share plan and applicable cost share program requirements.
E. If an owner who is approved to participate in a cost share program has satisfactorily performed all required cost share practices in strict compliance with the cost share program in which such owner is participating, the Village will provide the amount of reimbursement due in accordance with the cost share permit issued to such owner. Reimbursements will be made to the owner listed in the approved application or, on evidence accepted by the Village President, to a subsequent owner who has completed the cost share practices begun by the previous owner. An owner may request that the Village transfer a cost share permit to a new owner. (Ord. 16-02-03, 2-2-2016)