Apr 9, 2003 By Steve Ferris 2 min read

The Uniontown Redevelopment Authority will ask city council to reallocate $42,780 earmarked in a Community Development Block Grant application for resurfacing streets to the authority’s housing rehabilitation program. Authority Chairman Alvin Mundel questioned the road improvement funds Tuesday, saying repaving streets is the city’s responsibility and the authority is charged with improving housing for low-income residents.

City council approved the$470,068 CDBG application for 2003 at its April 1st meeting and it has already been submitted to the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Authority Executive Director William Long said he included $42,780 to resurface Monroe and Coffey streets in the application at city council’s request. He said new regulations allow CDBG money to be used for road improvement projects in low-income areas.

Board member John Oris said several businesses are located along Monroe Street, but no houses. He said the street needs repaved.

Mayor Jim Sileo, who is a non-voting member of the board, said the money could put to better use than repaving Monroe Street.

Mundel said allocating money from the 2003 CDBG for road improvements leaves too little – $90,000 – for housing rehabilitation.

Long said the authority will receive the CDBG money in September or October. He said he would wait until then to ask council transfer the money into the housing rehabilitation program.

He said there are 65 people on a two-year waiting list for the housing rehabilitation program.

The authority provides grants, low-interest and deferred loans for home repairs to city residents who meet income qualifications in the program.

The most expensive item in the application is $154,776 for the city’s storm sewer separation project.

Long said approximately $104,776 will be spent on a collector line that will run from Dunlap Street through Bailey Park. Some of the money will be used to improve drainage at the park.

The remaining $50,000 will be earmarked for storm sewers under Morgantown Street. The sewers are part of the Morgantown Street improvement project, which has been delayed until next year.

In addition, the application requests $70,300 for demolition and $27,600 for breathing equipment for the fire department.

The application also includes $84,612 for the authority salaries and administrative costs.