Leaders likely to vote where funds should go

The state program helps neighborhoods near revitalized downtowns.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council likely will decide Thursday which area of the city could benefit from an improvement program funded by the state.
Council President Christine Sands, at a work session Tuesday, said she plans to introduce a resolution at council's public meeting Thursday that would target the city's lower East Side for the state's Elm Street Program.
"If anyone wants to vote it down at that time, they can," she said. "We can go from there. But I believe that is the area that should be focused on."
The Elm Street Program provides money for infrastructure, parks, streetscapes and exterior building improvements in neighborhoods that are located near revitalized downtowns and that are a mix of residential and commercial buildings.
Competing sections
For months, city council has discussed applying for the funding and considered whether to focus on the lower East Side or the lower North Hill sections of the city. But officials have not been able to decide where to use the money, should the city receive it.
Tammi Gibson, city business administrator, said the city is eligible to apply for funding for 2005-06, and work could not begin until after funds are released.
She said the city missed its opportunity to receive an Elm Street grant from the 2004-05 funds because council did not meet the June 30 application deadline. June 30 marks the end of the fiscal year.
In other action, council plans to vote Thursday on whether to hire Graziani Construction Inc. of New Castle to complete the Old Big Run and Scott Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement project. Graziani submitted the lowest bid for the project, at $286,600.