Commissioners approve $900K in CDBG funding for housing rehabilitation, road projects across county
In Summit Township, Vogleyville Road will be reconstructed; in Penn Township, architectural barriers at Harcrest Park are to be removed; and in Jackson Township, blighted properties could be demolished using funds approved at a Wednesday county commissioners’ meeting.
Five municipalities — Jackson, Jefferson, Penn, Slippery Rock and Summit townships — will benefit from a $932,604 Community Development Block Grant application approved by the commissioners
The application requests $102,920 for Jackson Township, $106,485 for Jefferson Township, $104,079 for Penn Township, $123,760 for Slippery Rock Township and $98,812 for Summit Township.
Jackson Township plans to use the grant money for demolition and housing rehabilitation, and Jefferson Township would use it’s grant for housing rehabilitation.
Penn Township wants to use the grant to remove architectural barriers at Harcrest Park. Summit Township plans to use the money to reconstruct Vogleyville Road.
The application also includes administration costs that range from about $22,200 to $17,700.
Slippery Rock Township wants to use it’s grant for unspecified road improvements. A change order, which the commissioners approved, adds $26,580 to the McCandless Road widening project and increases the total project cost to $187,858.
The change order increased the thickness of the pavement and subbase from 12 to 18 inches and includes installing 133 feet of storm sewer piping to address wet ground.
Cooperation agreements for the county to administer Jackson and Jefferson townships’ housing rehabilitation programs using Jackson’s 2023 CDBG allocation of $57,460 and Jefferson’s 2023 allocation of $86,163 were approved.
In unrelated business, the commissioners approved payment of a $51,750 change order for replastering the pool at the Alameda Waterpark.
The commissioners awarded a $643,000 contract to All State Technology of New Jersey in April to replaster the pool.
In addition, the commissioners approved the hiring of new solicitors for the clerk of courts and register of wills offices due to the retirement of attorney Leo Stapanian.
Elizabeth Gribik was hired as the solicitor for the register of wills’ office, and Matthews Marshall was hired as the clerk of courts’ solicitor. Both will be paid $6,000 a year.
The commissioners also terminated a professional services agreement with independent consultant Mark Malick, of Beaver County, for not providing a comprehensive final report about his search for properties in the southern tier of the county as possible locations for a sports venue for Olympic and Paralympic events. The commissioners hired Malick for $10,000 on Jan. 31. Malick has been paid $2,500.
