Uniontown seeks $1 million for Morgantown Street
The city of Uniontown is once again seeking a million dollars to complete the street-scape project on Morgantown Street.
Council Wednesday authorized the city’s redevelopment authority to apply for the grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program. A similar grant had been sought in the past, but the funding was lost when documentation needed by PennDOT was not submitted in a timely fashion.
“This is a much needed program,” said Councilman Jared Billy.
In other matters, the council opened bids for the sale of two of its used plow trucks. There were three bids for a 1997 Chevrolet pickup truck, ranging from $638 to $2,207.15. Council voted to sell the truck to the high bidder, Mike Sokol of Uniontown. Councilmen Blair Jones and Billy voted against the sale.
Two bids were received for the city’s 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck: $450 was bid by Rose Auto Sales of Connellsville and David Works of Hopwood bid $400. Council voted to table both bids.
The city received one bid for petroleum products for 2016. The bid from Center Independent Oil was accepted, with the city agreeing to pay the Oil Price Information Service price plus 0.049 cents per gallon for unleaded fuel and the OPIS base price plus 0.074 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.
Fayette EMS was named as the city ambulance provider for 2016, with the ambulance service paying the city $1,000 a month for space in the fire station on Beeson Blvd.
“They want to increase service to the city, but they have only one bunk house and one shower facility,” said Councilman Phil Michael.
Fire Chief Dane “Buck” Griffith said there are no bunking or shower arrangements for females at the city’s East End fire station. Griffith said he was glad to have the ambulance crews at the Beeson station.
“It makes it easier for everybody,” Griffith said.
Council also adopted a resolution eliminating members’ contributions to the police and fire pension plans for 2016 on the recommendation of the plan’s actuary.
“We have a solid pension plan,” Michael said.
Although council has one more meeting coming up at the end of the month to adopt the 2016 budget and address other matters, Mayor Ed Fike took the opportunity at the end of the meeting Wednesday to thank the residents for allowing him to serve.
“I was able to live out a dream I’ve had since I was a kid, probably because my dad was mayor,” Fike said.
Fike noted that he began his first term with the city in debt by $1.6 million and is ending his tenure with more than $600,000 in the general fund.
“We came here with dignity and that’s how we’ll leave,” Fike said.