Connellsville officials ponder CDBG proposals
CONNELLSVILLE – Infrastructure and public health and safety projects top the list of requests as the city considers how to spend its 2005 state funding allocation. Ralph Wombacker, executive director of the city redevelopment authority, said Monday that six proposals have been submitted for consideration by organizations, individuals and public entities seeking to make improvements or purchases using the funds the city has been promised through the state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
“There is some good news and bad news (associated with the program),” said Wombacker during the public hearing. “The good news is that a budget (for the program) has been passed.
“The bad news is that the funding has been cut by 5 percent.”
With the decrease and less administrative costs, said Wombacker, the city will have approximately $337,000 for the projects.
Connellsville Community Center maintenance supervisor Hagan Guthrie proposed that approximately $45,000 be set aside for the installation of an upgraded heating system for the third floor of the center.
“You can fry eggs on the first floor just trying to get the third floor warm,” Guthrie said in making the presentation.
The 15 rooms located on the floor are occupied by Adolphoi Village with one room used by the HObo Railroad Model Club.
Councilman Bruce Jaynes said that the project is worthy of consideration.
Widmer Engineering Inc. vice president Dick Widmer advised the city to set aside approximately $179,000 for a storm sewerage project along Fourth and Fifth streets while residents along Seventh Street asked that sidewalks be upgraded.
New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co. requested that the $84,254 final payment for the Quint pumper truck be included in the 2005 program.
Officials of St. Rita’s Church asked that funding be budgeted to divert water from the church entrance to another location.
“We’d ask that you remedy this very dangerous situation,” wrote the church officials, adding that large amounts of rainwater pools during storms and ice forms in the winter.
The redevelopment authority requested that $40,000 be set aside as matching funds for an anticipated $201,250 state Hometown Streets/Safe Routes to School grant for which it has applied on behalf of the city.
Wombacker said, if awarded, the funding would be used to purchase street furniture, receptacles and bike racks for Crawford Avenue and continue the decorative lighting installation along Pittsburgh Street from Fairview Avenue to Route 119.
Of the 68 southwestern Pennsylvania communities that have applied for funding, the city is at 17 in the rankings, Wombacker said.
“We would leverage $40,000 in order to receive $201,000,” he said.
The city earmarked funding to five projects in 2004, including a storm sewerage project along Water Street, reconstruction of sidewalks along Ninth and Sixth streets, loan payments for fire equipment for the city’s two fire departments, emergency equipment for the Coke City Radio Club and upgrading of the Connellsville Community Center.
The storm sewerage project and upgrading of the center auditorium are still in the planning stages, said Wombacker.
The sidewalk projects are expected to begin in the spring and payments to the fire departments and equipment purchases for the radio club have been completed.
Wombacker said additional written requests would be accepted until Dec. 31. Submissions should be sent to the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority, 124 W. Crawford Ave., Connellsville, Pa. 15425.
In January, council will review all the requests and then make the final designation of the funds.