Authority earmarks grant for demolition
The Uniontown Redevelopment Authority is allocating Community Development Block Grant money for the demolition of four fire-damaged homes and one dilapidated house in the city. Executive Director William Long briefly updated board members about three of the homes Tuesday. He said he is assisting the city with the “emergency demolition” of three neighboring vacant houses on Collins Avenue.
Fires damaged all three houses. The most recent fire occurred Saturday.
Fire Chief and code enforcement officer Myron Nypaver, who was contacted after the meeting, said Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money has already been allocated for the referenced 14, 16 and 18 Collins Ave. houses, another fire-damaged house at 34 W. Coffee St. and a neglected house at 45 Whiteman Ave. All are vacant.
“They’re targets for crime and arson,” Nypaver said. “I don’t want them just sitting all summer.”
A fire at 18 Collins Ave. on Saturday damaged the front porch and a front room, he said.
The back yards of the Collins Avenue properties became “dumping grounds” and were filled with garbage. City street department workers recently cleared the yards, filling a 40-yard roll-off garbage container with the debris, Nypaver said.
He said owners of the Collins Avenue and West Coffee Street houses could not be located and the properties were condemned, while the owner of 45 Whiteman Ave. agreed to turn it over to the city after he was cited for not maintaining the structure.
In unrelated business, Long said specifications for repairing a home at 76 Lemon St., which the authority purchased and plans to resell, are being prepared.
The authority purchased the property for $26,000 and agreed to forgive $9,146 the owner owed the authority from a previous home rehabilitation grant and loan package.
Board members agreed to buy property liability insurance for $372.50 per year for the home and to hire M&G Home and Lawn Care Service of Uniontown to cut the grass for $22 per cut.
Long also informed the board that 31 homes in the city will receive fresh coats of paint or other minor repairs through the faith-based Group Work Camp.
High school-aged youth enrolled in the camp will work on the city homes as part of a visit throughout the county July 11-17.
In further business, the board:
– Approved the purchase of four breathing apparatuses for the fire department through a state program for $20,215 in CDBG money.
– Ratified the purchase of 10 batteries for police department portable radios for $480 from an unrestricted fund.
The money will be reimbursed from the CDBG fund, if the purchases qualify for the CDBG program.
– Agreed to hire Richard A. Davidson, a senior at California University of Pennsylvania and a Connellsville resident, as an unpaid intern through the end of July.