Carmichaels officials to receive grant for borough building
CARMICHAELS – Borough Secretary Mary Lewis was so happy with the state’s approval of a $25,000 grant to furnish the new borough building that she nearly cried Tuesday, before joking that she might kiss state Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Waynesburg) and state Sen. Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville) for making it possible. Lewis and Councilman Rev. Harold Kelley will meet with the lawmakers Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Greene County Airport restaurant as part of a ceremony to receive the funds.
“I’m proud to say as of Thursday we pick up the $25,000 check,” Lewis said. “They’ll never know how much we appreciate it.”
Lewis applied for the grant in October and, according to Mayor Norma Kelley, deserves most of the praise for the reward.
“I commend Mary for the work she did for that grant,” Kelley said. “It’s a big thing for the borough.”
Crews will break ground on the new building, located on South Market Street across from First Federal Bank, in late July, and it is expected to open later this year. Lewis said the grant would be used to buy furniture and equipment for the borough offices.
The one-story building will be shared by the borough and Carmichaels Water Authority and also house the borough police department. The borough donated the property for the building, and the authority will pay the estimated $220,000 for construction.
In other business, council revisited right-of-way concerns in the town circle. Lewis said a team of PennDOT engineers would examine the roadway and determine what changes, if any, to make to the street signs.
The law states that traffic within the circle has the right of way, although Lewis admitted that the law is rarely followed. She said it has not been a major problem because only three accidents have occurred there, all of them alcohol-related.
“We’ll leave it in the hands of PennDOT and wait until we get a decision,” Councilman John Paletta said. “We pretty much have to abide whatever they say anyway.”
In another matter, council filled the vacant seat left by Councilman Jim Zalar’s resignation last month by appointing Ryan M. Armstrong, a two-year resident of the borough, to the position. Janis Matthews was the other applicant.
Before adjourning, council announced the town’s annual Memorial Day parade will be held May 27 at 12:30 p.m., followed by a service at 1 p.m. Additionally, the date for the next regular meeting has been moved to June 18 at 6:30 p.m.