Officials make suggestions for grant funds
Uniontown Redevelopment Authority Executive Director William Long was hoping for comments from citizens about how to spend the 2003 federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of approximately $470,000. No citizens attended Monday’s hearing into the grant, but Long received several funding requests and suggestions from city code enforcement officer and acting fire chief Myron Nypaver and Bob Junk of the Fayette Enterprise Community.
Long began by saying past CDBG money has been spent on the city’s sewer separation project, equipment for the city’s police and fire departments, improvements to city parks, home improvements for low-income residents and demolition of unsafe structures.
He said estimated allotment for 2003 is 1 or 2 percent more than this year’s $465,000 grant.
A final hearing for the 2003 grant will be held toward the end of February or in early March.
Nypaver said the new fire station garage doors, which were bought with this year’s allocation, have kept the garage 15 degrees warmer than it was with the old doors.
He said the building would be even more energy efficient next year if more insulation was added to the structure and its heating system was replaced.
Firefighters also need new self-contained breathing equipment, Nypaver said.
The code enforcement office needs new software to keep track of blight removal projects.
City Councilman Gary Crozier asked Long about the administrative expenses that the authority retains from the grants.
Long said 18 percent “comes off the top” of the total grant and a 15 percent “delivery fee” will come off the top of the funding for any major project.
“Eighty-three thousand dollars is not enough to run the office. That’s was 18 percent is,” Long said referring to the administration fees taken from this year’s grant.
He said the 15 percent is a “delivery” for administering projects.
“If we didn’t take that delivery fee, the agency would be out of business,” Long said.
Junk said this year the FEC gave the city police department a grant for a new patrol car, paid for poles and brackets for decorations in downtown Uniontown and funded some home improvement projects through the authority.
For next year, he suggested using some money to improve code enforcement practices.
Junk said additional money could be used help enforce the code throughout the city and track offenders.
He said all property owners should be forced to bring their properties in compliance with the code to avoid the appearance that the code is being selectively enforced on certain property.
Nypaver said that is a mistaken appearance that is caused by the city’s lack of authority to extradite absentee landlords and building owners.
“It might look like we’re picking on some, but we can’t bring others back here,” Nypaver said.
He new or revised state legislation is needed to give the extradition powers and money is needed to prosecute property owners who violate the code.