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Hearing is slated on requests for federal funds |
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Written by Publisher
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Friday, 06 March 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
Gay DeGolier, left, the community development coordinator for the McKean County Redevelopment Authority, and Denny Winsor, right, rehabilitation specialist for the authority, take measurements Thursday for a sidewalk replacement project on Haines Street in Kane. Previous federal community-development funds allocated to the borough of Kane will pay for the project. The Redevelopment Authority will hold a public hearing Monday in Kane on municipal requests for funding for community development projects for 2010. The hearing begins at 1 p.m. at the borough building.
By Ted Lutz
Republican Staff
A public hearing is scheduled Monday on municipal requests for funding under the federal community development block grant (CDBG) program.
The hearing is set for 1 p.m. Monday at the Kane borough building on Bayard Street.
The Smethport–based McKean County Redevelopment Authority will conduct the hearing and announce the project applications from municipalities, which are seeking a piece of the county’s allocation of federal CDBG money.
Mt. Jewett, Wetmore Township, Hamilton Township (Ludlow) and Hamlin Township have all filed applications for CDBG funds. Other requests have come from the boroughs of Smethport and Eldred and from Eldred, Norwich, Otto and Sergeant townships.
Dusti Pantuso, the executive director of the Redevelopment Authority, said Thursday that the agency has not received the “actual figure” of CDBG funds to distribute for municipal projects. She expects that the authority will receive “at least the same as last year.”
The 2008 amount was $209,443, Pantuso said.
Since the funding requests from the municipalities total more than $785,000, the Redevelopment Authority won’t be able to approve every proposed project.
“We just can’t meet everyone’s request,” Pantuso said.
Pantuso said the list of projects to be reviewed at the hearing qualify for CDBG funds under the criteria for low and moderate-income areas.
She said several other proposed projects were rejected because they did not meet the criteria.
According to Pantuso, the original list of proposed projects totaled “almost” $2 million.
“It’s just insane,” Pantuso said in reference to the number of requests for CDBG funds this year. “The needs are great.”
While 10 municipalities in the county will be competing for shares from the county CDBG pot, the city of Bradford and the borough of Kane are considered “entitlement” communities and receive separate allocations of federal CDBG money.
The hearing Monday also will focus on Kane’s proposed use of the next round of CDBG funds. Kane last year received $96,817 in CDBG money, Pantuso said. A similar amount is expected this year.
The proposed list of Kane projects includes:
*Parking for the handicapped who enter the Kane Post Office on Fraley Street. This proposal also includes a handicapped accessible crosswalk near the post office.
*Curb cuts to make sidewalks accessible to handicapped persons in wheelchairs.
*The removal of hazardous trees.
*Spot demolition work at dilapidated buildings to reduce “slums and blight.”
*Extension of the backstop at the Pat Santilli Baseball Field on Hacker Street.
*The addition of another street crossing site on Edgar James Street.
*Two possible projects at the Kane Community Center. One project calls for funding for the after-school “Helping Hands” program. A second project calls for building improvements.
The cost estimates for the Kane projects are being prepared this month.
Here is a list of the proposed projects for Kane area municipalities:
*Mt. Jewett — Security cameras and recording equipment for the Heritage Park and the Community Park. The estimated cost is $18,089.
*Mt. Jewett — Training room and energy efficiency improvements at the Mt. Jewett Fire Hall. The estimated cost is $20,000.
*Wetmore Township — Improvements at the East Kane Park. The cost estimate of $12,380 includes $10,500 for three solar-powered street lights, $1,300 for a swing set at the playground and $580 for four additional benches.
*Hamilton Township — Improvements for the restrooms and Olmsted Pavilion at Wildcat Park. The cost estimate of $22,977 includes $11,684 for the installation of a drainage system and walkways and $11,293 for refurbishing the restrooms.
*Hamlin Township — Repairs for fire trucks for the Hamlin Township Volunteer Fire Department in Hazel Hurst. The cost estimate of $11,394 includes $8,595 for work on the 1978 tanker and $2,799 for work on the 1988 mini-tanker.
Norwich and Eldred townships are both seeking CDBG funds that total more than the entire county allocation. Norwich is seeking $266,989 and Eldred is asking for $226,800. Both townships intend to use the funds for sewage projects.
The purpose of Monday’s hearing is to receive public comments and questions.
The Redevelopment Authority is expected to act by March 16 to recommend a list of CDBG projects to the McKean County Commissioners. The commissioners are expected to adopt a final list of projects at their meeting March 25.
A public hearing on the project list is expected to be held April 3 at the Redevelopment Authority office in Smethport.
Funds for the projects approved won’t be available for another year, Pantuso pointed out.
The authority now is working to line up the projects approved with previous CDBG grants.
Gay DeGolier, the community development coordinator for the authority, visited Kane on Thursday to gather measurements for a proposed sidewalk replacement project.
Denny Winsor, a Kane resident who is the rehabilitation specialist for the authority, assisted DeGolier in obtaining the data.
DeGolier said bids for the sidewalk replacement project in Kane might be sought by the end of the month. A total of 12 sidewalks are expected to be replaced this year in Kane. Property owners who meet income guidelines were previously invited to submit applications for new sidewalks.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 30 July 2009 )
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