Greene commissioners apply for grant to improve airport
WAYNESBURG – Greene County will apply for a $198,000 federal grant that will be used to begin preliminary work for improvements to the county airport. Commission Chairwoman Pam Snyder said at Thursday’s meeting that the grant – which the county will apply for through a federal Economic Development Initiative Special Projects funding stream – will be used to begin pre-construction and construction activities for several improvements to the airport.
The changes and improvements were addressed in the county’s airport master plan, which has been submitted to the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT)’s Bureau of Aviation and is awaiting final approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The proposed master plan calls for a modified layout of the airport, as well as the replacement of the T-hangars and the repavement of the airport’s apron, taxiway and runway.
County Chief Clerk Gene Lee said many of the T-hangars were built more than 60 years ago and will be torn and replaced.
In other business, the commissioners also awarded a contract to a Harrisburg engineering firm for preliminary engineering work on county-owned property in Cumberland Township.
The county will pay Pennoni Associates Inc. to help evaluate a 14-acre lot owned by the county at Bailey Crossroads near the Junction Deli.
Snyder said Pennoni also will be required to coordinate with PennDOT, which is planning to reconfigure the intersection of state Routes 21 and 1021.
The realignment will help improve traffic conditions at the intersection, she added.
The commissioners have said they would like to see the property used for future economic development.
The contract with Pennoni will be paid through a federal grant and is not to exceed $25,000, Snyder said.
The county has owned the property for the past three years after obtaining ownership from LTV Steel Co.
In other matters, officials announced Thursday that the county has been selected to receive $313,123 in state and federal money as a result of submitting an application in a homeless assistance competition.
The funding will benefit two county housing programs, the Greene County Permanent Supportive Housing Project and Greene County Shelter + Care, according to Karen Bennett, administrator of the county human services department.
The Greene County Permanent Supportive Housing Project, which will receive $131,683 in funding, promotes the development of housing and supportive services in an effort to assist homeless people in the transition from streets and shelters to independent living. Currently, there are eight apartments in Waynesburg.
Greene County Shelter + Care, which will receive $181,440, is a program designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis for homeless people with disabilities, and their families who are living in emergency shelters or places not intended for human habitation.
The S+C Program will have six scattered apartments throughout the county and participants will choose where they want to live.
The funding will be awarded through a homeless assistance program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The commissioners announced changes for their next scheduled meetings. The next agenda meeting will be held on Feb. 19 and the next regular meeting will be held on Feb. 20. Both meetings will start at 10 a.m.