Council Prioritizes Fire House Roof Replacement
Kittanning Borough Council unanimously voted to utilize portions of their 2008 Community Development Block Grant funds toward a metal roof replacement for Kittanning Hose Company #4. Council also agreed to use excess funds toward improvements along the Armstrong Trail.
by Jonathan Weaver
Kittanning Borough voted last night to allocate State grant proceeds toward potentially-two different projects.
Borough council members thought up various possible projects last night during their monthly council meeting in an attempt to utilize remaining Community Development Block Grant funding from the 2008 Fiscal Year.
Armstrong County Community Development Division Director Jennifer Bellas told Council members how much money is remaining.
“We need a project that’s going to fit $37,218 without much overflow because the Borough doesn’t have any other funds to match,” Bellas said.
Even though Council had until March 5 to determine the projects, Bellas said they had to act fast since money has to be used within five years of issuance.
“I need to get special permission from the State to approve anything we even acknowledge,” Bellas said. “Then we have to be complete by 2013 so I can get project close-outs.”
Ultimately, Council unanimously decided to prioritize the money toward a new metal roof for Kittanning Hose Company #4’s fire station on Orr Avenue. Extra money will go toward unfinished sections along the Armstrong Trail.
During a public CDBG needs hearing before the public meeting, Armstrong County Community Development Division Director Jennifer Bellas said 2012 funds will be dedicated toward the Market Street Downtown Revitilization Project. The amount Kittanning Borough will receive has not yet been determined by the State, but the Borough's nearly $98,000 allotment is expected to be cut by up to 12 percent.
Bellas said the new roof would cover the entire structure and be complete with overhangs, new gutters and siding where needed, and replacement of rotten wood. Estimates for the roof came to $12,700, but there was concern whether State prevailing wage amounts were calculated into that since the project would have to be bid.
Borough Council President Chris Schiano said the roof replacement was his first priority.
Council committed to using the remaining estimated-$20,000 toward the Armstrong Trail after hearing from Allegheny Valley Land Trust Executive Director Ron Steffey.
Steffey – who said he hopes for the trail to run to East Brady in Clarion County in the next few years – said he also had Armstrong County and Kittanning Borough’s interest in-mind.
“Our revenues are down, and the only way to get them up is to get more visitors here and make this a destination for people,” Steffey said. “I’m looking at the benefits of how we can get more people to come to Kittanning – I think there’s a lot of things we can do by taking care of some of these problems.
“Anything would be an improvement to shorten the missing links,” Steffey said.
He cited the recent success of the Kit-Han-Ne Village in the old H.M. Pollock Co. at the corner of South Grant Avenue and Jacob Street and hopes to add on that.
Bellas cautioned that grant funding must be enough to satisfy engineering and design contracts, not only design work.
Steffey will also apply for grants through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to help with unfinished areas – including one along Chestnut and North Grant Avenue. Council also questioned if he could apply for funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Investment Authority (PENNVEST), to which Borough Engineer Mike Malak of Senate Engineering recommended borough officials utilize the loans for multiple projects.
Reportedly, volunteer labor has also been provided for the trail and could also be utilized during the next few years
Bellas said the roof replacement might not use all the money, but she wanted to make sure Council didn’t need to potentially-stress about two project contracts.
“My recommendation (was) to pick one project to put the money toward and bid it out. If there’s anything extra after that, then we can modify,” Bellas said. “I don’t want to allocate toward two projects and not have enough money for one.”
Council prioritized the roof replacement while also considering curb cuts and Community Park playground equipment.
Projects did not have to be decided on by Council until March 5. Last night, Bellas hoped to have a second public hearing on the allocations before the Borough Council’s April 2 meeting.
During a public hearing before the regular meeting to discuss the 2012 CDBG funding, Bellas said all proceeds will go toward the local revitalization project on Market Street. She was not sure how much money Kittanning Borough would receive, however.
“We got an e-mail from the State, where it’s looking at at-least a 12 percent cut – there were more entitlements based on the 2010 census data, so we’re looking at a 12-or-even higher (percent) decrease,” Bellas said. “At a 12-percent decrease, you’re looking at a total of $86,089.”
The Borough was previously thought to be receiving nearly $98,000.
Grant funding from the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years were also given toward that project.
Bellas expects final funding amounts to be available at the end of the month.
No local residents came to object to the dedication.
In other news, Council unanimously elected Michael Rosenberger of the 1st Ward to fill the vacant spot previously held by Cindy Housley. Housley resigned her seat at the beginning of 2012.
The entire meeting can be heard today at 1PM on WTYM Radio 1380.
Council President Chris Schiano reviews a map of portions of the Armstrong Trail while Allegheny Valley Land Trust Executive Director Ron Steffey appeals to Council members for part of their "left-over" 2008 CDBG funding. Council voted to replace Hose Company #4's roof first, then divert remaining money to the trail.
Kittanning Borough | jweaver February 7, 2012
By wakeuppeople, February 7, 2012 @ 7:19 AM
why don’t you close that fire station is there a real need to have t fire stations 2 blocks from each other. really think about all the money that has been sunk into that fire hall over the last few years. you could use that money to help the other two depts out.
By jester, February 7, 2012 @ 9:12 AM
Sure am glad we can put money into that stupid trail when there’s street paving that needs to be done ……….
By goober, February 7, 2012 @ 6:28 PM
i would rather see 20,000 go tword playground equip for kids or did they ever do the flood wall they were lacking money for?how about patching a few holes instead of throwing it down a rail trail.
By forward, February 7, 2012 @ 11:50 PM
I agree jester and goober, that trail won’t bring enough folks to town to pay for 1 hour of the codes officers salary.
By forward, February 7, 2012 @ 11:56 PM
wakeuppeople, I don’t think # 6 needs, or is asking for any help. As to # 1 well………Now as far as this project goes, let’s hope they get more for their money with this roof project than they did with that $39,000 restroom remodel that # 4 had done about 8 years ago.
By come_on_people, February 8, 2012 @ 11:06 AM
All I have to say is “WOW”!!! This is unreal, throwing money away on a fire station that doesn’t really need to exist then spending the rest on a trail that hardly gets used. I can’t believe it
!!!
By Ford Cidiot, February 9, 2012 @ 12:12 AM
All of you complaining about how the grant money is being spent do realize that there are certain things this money can be spent on, right? Paving roads is NOT something it can be used for. Funny how this article didn’t mention this.