Charleroi moves forward on several projects
CHARLEROI – Charleroi Council is continuing to upgrade the nearly 100-year-old borough building to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Council on Thursday authorized the start of construction of two ADA-compliant restrooms on the third floor of the borough building. Total cost of the project is $50,000 and will be paid from funding from Washington County Redevelopment Authority. The building also had an elevator recently installed to be ADA compliant.
Council authorized the change of scope of the 2014 Community Development Block Grant project from recreation to street improvement, Councilman Larry Celaschi said.
President Paul Pivovarnik said the project is already approved and if the money is not used, it goes back into a fund and may not be there for the borough to use for another project.
Council also approved a $100,000 advance in CDBG funds from the redevelopment authority for the demolition of the former Atlas Building. No date has been set for demolition.
The building, at Second Street and McKean Avenue, along with the nearby former Charleroi High School football stadium, was recently sold by the school board to Mon Valley Alliance, a nonprofit economic development group. Plans are to demolish both structures and develop it as a recreational asset for the community. The borough agreed to dedicate the block grant money to demolish the Atlas Building.
Council adopted a dumpster ordinance. Residents will pay $10 a day for a container with a 10-day limit. The borough code officer will determine placement of the container. Pivovarnik said the ordinance was put in place because residents placed the containers for long periods on streets, impacting parking and creating eyesores. “This will prevent those things,” he said.
In other news, the borough’s community Kennywood picnic will be held Aug. 11.