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Municipalities to see cuts in liquid fuels funds

By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

The majority of Fayette County commissioners voted Thursday to reduce the liquid fuels allocation distributed among 36 municipalities, based on learning of a reduction in the amount of available funds. Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink and Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III voted to reduce the additional allocation to the municipalities from $1,000 to $600. Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites voted against it, saying that since a $70,000 surplus is available, the commissioners should allocate the $1,000 per municipality they previously approved.

Zimmerlink explained the reason for the change is that the county will receive only $22,956 from the state Department of Transportation as a result of an audit finding instead of the $37,000 originally anticipated.

At the commissioners’ June 23 meeting, a motion was approved to distribute $3,652.47 to each of the 36 municipalities that are eligible to receive the funding within two years, with $1,000 of that amount earmarked to come from the anticipated reimbursement from PennDOT.

Zimmerlink said since the June meeting, she has learned that the county will only receive $22,956 and not $37,000, so she proposed that the commissioners should rescind the June motion and then vote to designate $400 less to each municipality based on available funds.

Vicites said he believes the municipalities should be given as much money as possible and didn’t believe the commissioners should change the allocation.

County Manager Warren Hughes acknowledged that there is currently $70,000 in liquid fuels funds for emergency use, but said he would recommend against using any of it. Vicites said $15,000 of that could be used so the municipalities would receive the amount they were promised by virtue of last month’s motion.

Zimmerlink said she also wants to give the municipalities as much as they can, but the extra money is no longer there. “I don’t think you understand,” Zimmerlink told Vicites, to which he replied, “I totally understand. We have $70,000.”

Vicites said he doesn’t think taking $15,000 out of the $70,000 would make much difference. Hughes said with the 83 county bridges, it is better to leave more money in the account in case emergency repairs are needed.

Zimmerlink said the extra $1,000 was an added bonus and the anticipated total amount is no longer available based on the new information.

Vicites was unconvinced. “We gave them 35 (hundred). We should stick to it,” he said. But he added that the majority rules.

On another matter, Zimmerlink reported that she recently received a letter from Upper Tyrone Township regarding adoption of the new countywide zoning, subdivision and land development ordinance.

Zimmerlink suggested to Tammy Shell, director of the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, that she should call the township regarding their concerns.

Zimmerlink said the commissioners have discussed adopting the text of the ordinance and then changing the zoning maps, but said now Upper Tyrone Township is “asking us not to do that.”

Vicites said he spoke with an Upper Tyrone Township supervisor about their concerns. Vicites said he believes that if the commissioners adopt the text of the ordinance and then have planning officials go to the 32 municipalities the ordinance affects that it should satisfy their concerns.

In action on agenda items, the commissioners voted to bid the repair and replacement of the roof and parapet for the county annex building (courthouse).

The commissioners approved the purchase of one year of insurance for the Fredericktown Ferry from Gleason Agency at a cost of $10,150, of which half, or $5,075, will be paid by Washington County.

The commissioners also voted to advertise a request for proposals for the position of human resource director and for contract services for a human resource agency.

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