County considers development ideas
WAYNESBURG – Greene County held its second and final public hearing Wednesday on the proposed use of 2015 Community Development Block Grants allocated to the county as well as to the three municipalities eligible to receive money.
This is the first year a single application for the county and all CDBG-eligible municipalities has been prepared by the county and, so far, the process has gone “smoothly,” said Crystal Simmons, the county’s CDBG coordinator.
The state Department of Community and Economic Development, which administers the federal grant program on the state level, earlier asked each county to submit one application for the county and all eligible communities. Previously, each municipality eligible for money submitted separate applications.
Municipalities that receive funding must have populations that exceed 4,000 people. In Greene County, they are Cumberland Township, Waynesburg Borough and Franklin Township.
CDBG money must be used to benefit low- and moderate-income residents. It also can be used to prevent or eliminate blight or for any emergency community development needs.
No residents spoke during the hearing held following the commissioners’ agenda meting. The proposed uses include the following:
• The county’s grant of $178,650 will be allocated to Greensboro Borough and be used to help rehabilitate the Greensboro-Monongahela Township Joint Sewer Authority’s collection system.
• Cumberland Township has proposed using its allocation of $102,423 to continue operating the township’s home rehabilitation program. The township expects to rehabilitate five owner-occupied homes with the allocation.
• Franklin Township intends to spend its $107,624 allocation for waterline extensions along Orndoff Road.
• Waynesburg Borough intends to use its allocation of $83,055 for the borough’s combined sewage separation project.
• The county has a three-year community development plan. It calls for earmarking the county’s 2016 funds for Wayne Township for an Oak Forest Road sewage line replacement and extension; 2017 funds for Whiteley Township for a water line extension on Route 19; and 2018 funds for Perry Township for water system upgrades.
The hearing also was held for a modification of the county’s 2012 and 2013 CDBG allocations. About $281,000 originally was to be used for sewer treatment plants for Alicia and Poland Mines. It will now be allocated to the Dunkard Valley Joint Municipal Authority to replace water meters as part of a plan for the authority to be acquired by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority.
The county will accept comments on the proposed CDBG application until Nov. 5. Comments should be directed to Simmons, director of Community Development Block Grant Program, 49 S. Washington St., Waynesburg, PA, 15370.