Connellsville redevelopment authority begins revitalization project
CONNELLSVILLE – The downtown section of the city will be illuminated within the next few months as the first phase of a revitalization project gets under way. Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Ralph Wombacker reported Wednesday that trenching for electrical wiring for the new light fixtures will be getting started “relatively soon,” with the lamps to be installed after they are received from the manufacturer.
The project entails the removal of the current 12 mercury vapor lights lining West Crawford Avenue from the intersection of Pittsburgh Street to Arch Street and the eight lamps along the Crawford Avenue bridge with 21 quartz decorative acorn-style lamps.
An additional light is to be placed at the eastern end of the bridge.
The $57,685 cost includes the underground wiring, trenching and conduit, along with the purchase of the lights.
While it was initially planned that the wiring be placed within the brick work along the sidewalk, Wombacker said the installation may have to be done within the roadway or to the outside of the brickway because the materials cannot be removed from their concrete base.
The less-than-expected cost, said Wombacker, was attributed to the assistance of Allegheny Energy, which is overseeing the installation.
“We’re getting a tremendous bang for our buck,” he said.
The city set aside $86,000 for the project from its 2002 state Community Development Block Grant allocation.
The remaining project funding is slated to be earmarked for the purchase of benches and trash receptacles.
The installation of an elevator for the Connellsville Community Center is also progressing, Wombacker informed the board.
The city allocated $50,000 to the project that when completed would allow access to the second- and third-floor areas of the former school.
While a staircase to the other levels is available, it does not meet with the Americans With Disabilities Act requirements.
Wombacker said that although an engineer is needed to assist with the development of specifications for the bidding process, the project remains a priority.
Two other projects earmarked to be undertaken through the state funding program have been put on hold until council takes further action on their implementation.
Wombacker said the reconstruction of sidewalks along Ninth Street has been delayed at the request of Mayor Judy Reed.
“The mayor believes that because this is a state road, the state may have some responsibility in doing some of this work,” he said. “She is in contact with the state and has asked that we wait to take action until this is resolved.”
The city set aside $100,000 for the replacement of sidewalks in the area.
Wombacker said a city-approved list of properties to be demolished has not been forwarded to the redevelopment authority, which has delayed the securing of a contractor to remove the structures.
The remaining $50,000 from the 2002 CDBG fund has been turned over to New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Company to defray costs associated with the purchase of a $360,000 Quint aerial/pumper truck.
Although a large portion of the funding from the 2002 program has not been expended, Wombacker said the city has an additional 21/2 years to complete any projects or to modify the projects slated to be undertaken through the state grant.
In other business, the authority also:
– Reviewed the final expenditures of the CDBG programs for 2000 and 2001.
– Accepted the 2001 audit report submitted by Kisiel and Associates of Connellsville.
– Discussed the appraisal of the business incubator as it considers selling the facility.
– Reviewed the donation of a West Crawford Avenue building to the agency.