South Connellsville to apply for grant
SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE – Borough Council agreed to apply for a second grant through the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority that would complete a storm sewer project along Dushane Avenue if the funding is awarded. Council, on Tuesday, learned of the Jan. 15 deadline from Alex Pounds of Widmer Engineering.
The additional funding would come from the county’s Community Development Block Grant program.
Absent from the meeting were council members Bill Copeland and Michelle Mattis.
Pounds said the firm surveyed the area affected by the project earlier this month and found that a nearby stream ran further than expected, putting another damper on the project.
Last month, Widmer determined that neighboring streets could be affected by the installation of the sewer lines by flooding them with large amounts of water from storm sewer run-off.
“We’re taking another look at it,” said Pounds.
Although the project has been extended until June, Pounds suggested using the funding from the initial grant to purchase the necessary materials to complete it by installing storm sewers along all of Dushane to keep water from running onto Second Street. Pounds added the borough could then apply for additional funding to help offset any labor costs.
Since the borough will receive notice in February from the redevelopment authority on whether or not they were awarded more funding, Mark Ward, council president, stated he would like to hold off on the part of the project along Second Street until then.
“The best thing would be to sewer the entire street and then take it down Second Street and into the catch basin,” said Pounds.
On the other hand, Pounds said the engineering firm is concerned about having excess discharge onto other properties and that ditches are not put in the entire scope of the project.
“If we can get the entire money to sewer the entire street, that by far would be the best choice,” Pounds added.
In an unrelated matter, council discussed once again an agreement with Connellsville Township involving the sharing of a chipper. Because the township requested that the cost for maintenance be pro-rated, council agreed to look into sharing it with another municipality.
As far as a proposed police protection agreement between the borough and the township, Richard Bower, solicitor said the township’s solicitor indicated to him that the supervisors are looking into other law enforcement options at this time.
Council also adopted a stop sign ordinance to place the signs at 59 intersections in the borough.