Monday, July 28, 2003
A storm damage committee will be formed to coordinate assistance.
BY MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- The county is trying to find money for homeowners with property damage from recent storms.
When Mercer County commissioners met Thursday, they asked Chris Conti of the Mercer County Planning Commission to try to find grant help. Commissioner Olivia Lazor said she has had several calls from low-income senior citizens unable to afford repairs.
Brenneman asked Conti to determine whether any Community Development Block Grant funds left over from previous years can be redesignated for storm help. He added that he has also contacted the Department of Environmental Protection to see if any assistance is available. He asked Conti to put together a storm damage committee to coordinate efforts.
Brenneman added that he received a call just before Thursday's meeting informing him an aide of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter would be in the county Thursday afternoon to inspect damage.
Other storm problems
In related business Thursday, commissioners approved an emergency repair of a bridge on Ballpark Road, Jefferson Township. County Engineer Mark Miller said the bridge was the worst of nine damaged in the storms. The bridge, which is actually a culvert, will take about three months to replace, Miller said. Funding will be from state liquid fuels funds.
In addition, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency officials are expected to be in the county this week and may have additional repair funds available. Miller said the other bridges suffered minor damage --about $1,000 apiece.
Also Thursday, commissioners said they need more information before determining what kind of help they can offer Greenville where the Saul Run Creek is causing silt backup, which may cause flooding. Brenneman said he will not vote to provide help unless Greenville guarantees it will maintain the creek to avoid problems.
Commissioners also discussed cutbacks in human services funds to the county for the 2003-04 fiscal year. Although the final figures are not in because the state has not finalized the budget, reductions in funding are expected.
Other situations
One cut is in the Home Delivered Meal Program run by the Area Agency on Aging. Tom Inman, accountant at the agency, said the program delivers one meal daily to functionally disabled, homebound, income-eligible adults age 18 to 59. But though 65 people were able to receive the service last fiscal year, 30 will be served this year unless additional money can be found.
A one-year contract for family preservation services for Children and Youth Services with Craig Psychological Associates, Seneca, Pa., was approved with a limit of $220,000 per year. Beverly Burrows, CYS administrator, said the program assigns one worker to visit troubled families two to three days per week for several months. Sixty families per year are served by the program.
A contract with Westminster College, New Wilmington, was renewed for $40,284 for independent monitoring team services. Since July 2000, the college has been providing the independent monitoring required by the state for services provided by Mercer County to the mentally retarded.