Commissioners reactivate redevelopment authority
WAYNESBURG – Greene County commissioners agreed Thursday to reactivate the county’s redevelopment authority – which has been inactive for 15 years – and appoint five members to the new board. The authority, which officials said will serve as an independent government entity whose primary purpose is to obtain state and federal grants for the county, was initially created in the 1960s but became inactive in 1994 as a result of a lack of funding, according to County Chief Clerk Gene Lee. Interest in reactivating the authority surfaced when county officials and consultants agreed that it could help the county possibly obtain grant funding through the federal economic stimulus package, Commissioner Dave Coder said.
One of the main focuses of the authority would be to address housing issues in the county, Coder said. Earlier this year, commissioners approved a contract with Third Sector Development of Monroeville to begin preparing a countywide housing needs assessment.
As part of the contract, Third Sector Development will obtain specific housing data from each of the county’s five school districts, and will also create a demographic and housing economic database, conduct stakeholder interviews with housing resource providers and analyze municipal comprehensive plans as part of the assessment process.
The company is anticipated to have a preliminary report on the assessment by the end of July.
The redevelopment authority will work with the county’s Housing and Industrial Development Authorities – as well as the county’s economic development and human services departments – to primarily address housing concerns and eventually look at other development issues throughout the county.
After approving the reactivation of the authority, commissioners appointed the following five people to serve on the board: Ralph Burchianti, John Dorean, Barry Nelson, Marcia Sonneborn and Thelma Szarell. The authority will hold public meetings on a regular basis.
In other business, commissioners awarded a contract to Humble Carpet in Waynesburg for the purchase and installation of 1,750 feet of new portable indoor/outdoor carpet.
The carpet will be installed in the county fairgrounds’ arena barn, prior to the upcoming Mountaineer Kennel Club and South Hills Kennel Club’s “Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show,” which will be held June 18-21.
Humble Carpet was one of four bids submitted to the county. Lee explained that Humble submitted the lowest qualified bid for the project. The awarded bid was for $16,415. Commissioner Pam Snyder said the project will be paid for through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Lee said the carpet will be used for the dog show and other events at the fairgrounds. After each use, the carpet will be safely removed and placed into storage for future use, Lee said.
In other business, Benita Johnson of the U.S. Census Bureau presented information about the 2010 Census and said census workers will be diligently working with local officials to raise awareness of the importance of the population count to take place next year.
The census, which is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years.
Johnson said census data obtained through the county in 2010 could determine the amount of aid that is allocated to the county by the federal government.
“Once we take a census snapshot of Greene County, you will have to live to those numbers for the next 10 years,” Johnson said. “So we want to make sure Greene County gets their fair share of funding. It is vital that every man, woman and child here is counted.”
Johnson stressed that the forms are easy to fill out and that all information obtained through the census is confidential and will not be shared.
“Every census worker takes a federal oath for life to protect the confidentiality of census responses,” she explained.
For more information about the 2010 Census, visit online at www.census.gov/2010census.
In other business, commissioners issued several proclamations for various agencies, organizations and individuals.
Commissioners proclaimed:
n May as “Mental Health Awareness Month” to increase public awareness of severe mental illness and promote greater access to effective treatments.
n May as “Protect Our Children from Tobacco Smoke Pollution Month” to encourage county residents to educate themselves and others about the harmful effects of tobacco smoke pollution on children.
n May as “Foster Parent Month” to recognize the contributions of foster parents to county children and families. The commissioners were presented with a tree of blue ribbons representing all county children who are in out-of-home placements.
n May as “Community Action Month” in recognition of the services Community Action Southwest provides in the county.
n The week of May 17-23 as “Emergency Medical Services Week” in recognition of the value and accomplishments of emergency medical services providers.
* The month of May “Older Americans Month” to encourage all citizens to honor older adults and help them make choices for a healthy and rewarding future.
Commissioners also recognized Betsy Roush of Carmichaels for being the Greene County recipient of the Leadership in Recovery Award from Value Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania.
The award acknowledges Roush for being “actively engaged in her recovery, who encourages other members in the recovery process, and who has demonstrated courage, creativity and leadership in her community.”
In other business, commissioners also appointed members to – and also accepted resignations of members from – various boards.
Commissioners agreed to: Appoint Gene Lee to the Greene County Library System’s board of trustees; accept Heidi Szuminsky’s resignation from the county tourism board and appoint Jane Cole to the board; and accepted Mark Fox’s resignation from the county planning commission.
Commissioners also reminded all county residents that the 2009 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, and that all polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.