Leftover 2004 funds to fill requests

Wilmington Township’s sewer project on Bend Road will be fully funded.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MERCER, Pa. — Commissioners will make everybody happy by using leftover 2004 project money to fund all the 2008 Community Development Block Grant requests as well as one not on the original list.

Commissioner Brian Beader said Wednesday commissioners plan to award at least partial funding today to three projects that the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission initially recommended receive no money.

The new 2008 project list commissioners expect to be approved today:

U$140,550 for South Pymatuning Township for a water system.

U$49,408 for a Wilmington Township storm sewer system.

U$24,448 for a Mercer borough storm sewer system.

U$25,000 for road and street improvements in Jamestown.

U$6,000 for The Community Food Warehouse for continuation of food programs.

U$13,800 for the Literacy Council for continuation of programs to rural areas.

U$56,898 administrative costs for the planning commission.

Of those projects, the planning commission initially recommended no funding for the Mercer, Jamestown and Literacy Council requests because the total requests outstripped the $259,160 available for local projects.

In addition, Wilmington Township will receive the entire $138,800 requested for installation of storm sewers along Bend Road.

The initial recommendation was that Wilmington Township be granted only $114,610. Commissioners, however, decided to use $89,392 in leftover 2004 funds for the project, and $49,408 in 2008 funds. The reduction in the 2008 funds for that project freed up money to fund the other three projects.

In addition, Beader said the McQuiston Center, a senior center in Sandy Lake operated by the Mercer County Area Agency on Aging, will receive $3,000 from the 2004 funds to solve a hard-water problem there. The center was not on the original funding request list.

Chris Conti, planning commission senior planner, said the 2004 funds come from $92,392 left over from three projects, and the money must be spent by summer 2009.

About $76,000 comes from 2004 block grant funds awarded but never used for Woodland Place, the former county nursing home, for facility improvements.

The remainder is from two projects that cost less than anticipated — demolition of a house in Jackson Center and handicapped-accessible improvements to the Jamestown building.