MERCER County to get up to $2M in disaster relief

Commissioners also allocated CDBGs to local communities.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County is expected to receive $1.5 million to $2 million in disaster relief, for recent storm damage, Commissioner Gene Brenneman said.
He announced at the commissioners meeting Thursday that federal and Pennsylvania emergency management agencies will have temporary offices in the Mercer County Public Safety Building to take applications for disaster relief from nonprofit organizations and municipalities.
The help is available because Mercer County recently received a federal disaster designation. The number to call for help is (724) 662-6100.
Since there were a series of damaging storms, the period of reimbursable expenses extends from July 5 to the end of August, he said.
In addition, multiple damage to the same location will be reimbursed. For example, if a road washed out, was repaired, then washed out in the next storm, costs for both repairs will be reimbursed.
Commissioners also announced that grants to local communities totaling $300,902 will be made under the 2003 Community Development Block Grant program.
Allocations involved
Allocations are $248,752 for a new water tower in Fredonia; $14,500 for Jamestown sanitary sewer system improvements to bring the sewage plant into compliance with state Department of Environmental Protection standards; $27,650 for Mercer borough to remove architectural barriers for the handicapped; and $10,000 for Mercer County Regional Council of Governments to continue transportation of low- and moderate-income people to Chestnut Run swim beach during the summer.
The county awards projects each year for communities that do not receive their own CDBG funds. The program only provides partial funding for each of the projects, with the remainder coming from other sources.
Commissioners agreed to pay the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission $40,000 to administer the CDBG program. The planning commission has been administering the grants for the county for several years.
Other approvals
In other business, commissioners approved service agreements and daily rates with Tressler Care for Children & amp; Youth Services, Mechanicsburg. The contracts are approved so they are in place if youths need to be placed in residential care during the year. These services range from $47.53 to $750 per day. Brenneman commented that the most expensive services are those for youthful sex offenders.
They also approved contracts for mental retardation services through the Behavioral Health Commission and approved a contract with Affordable Service Inc., Pittsburgh, to complete a hazard mitigation plan required by FEMA and PEMA.