CLEARFIELD- Clearfield County Commissioners approved the contract from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for funding of three projects from FFY 2014 Community Development Block Grant application.
The total grant award is $245,839. Of this, $42,640 is tagged for administration costs, with the remaining $203,199 to be divided for the three projects.
The Houtzdale Municipal Sewer Authority will receive $44,588 to upgrade the sewage facility’s aeration system that is over 40 years old. The total cost of the project is $49,000. The balance of $5,412 will be provided by the Authority through in-kind provisions and labor.
Irvona Municipal Authority will receive $80,000 for a $179,105 project to replace approximately 3,000 feet of transit waterline that is over 70 years old. The water system serves over 580 Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU’s) in the Irvona Borough and Beccaria Township. The Authority will provide the remaining funds for the project.
Brady Township will receive $78,000 to assist low and moderate income homeowners in paying for sewage lateral connections. Brady Township is constructing a sewage system that will serve over one-third of the township’s population of approximately 849 houses. The cost of the new sewer construction is $5,500,000.
Clearfield County Planning and Community Development Office administrates the CDBG application process and funding distributions.
Regarding a recent legal action filed by Clearfield-Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission, County Commissioners stated they could not comment on the issue because of ongoing litigation.
CJDAC alleges that Clearfield County has failed to properly administer and disburse nearly $250,000 collected over a number of years from criminal defendants convicted of DUI, and/or violations of the Controlled Substance Act. As required by the PA Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Act, known as Act 198, a portion of such collected costs must be spent on “substance abuse treatment and/or prevention” services.
County Controller Antonio Scotto did reiterate as per a press release of June 19, that there is no missing money, and all monies collected were used for drug treatment and drug prevention. Scotto also added that the county is issuing a preliminary objection to the complaint from CJDAC.
In other business, Commissioners approved an application for Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant through the federal Environmental Protection Agency for fiscal year 2016. Solicitor Kim Kesner noted the grant is for a study of hazardous materials moving through the county.
Commissioners also approved the filling of final analysis reports for close-out of a HMERP grant from fiscal year 2014-15 that studied the types and quantities of hazmat materials in the county.
Commissioner Mark McCracken announced that Clearfield County Day at the State College Spikes is scheduled for July 18. McCracken said there are special packages for groups from Clearfield County, including an afternoon picnic and tour of the ball park.
The Spikes game on July 18 is against Batavia and starts at 7:05. Clearfield County Day is part of the Spikes Community Nights series presented by CATACOMMUTE.