CLEARFIELD – While it may not have been what they originally planned, Clearfield Borough has big improvements in store for the borough using Community Block Grant allocations.
At a second public hearing, Clearfield County Community Development Specialist Lisa Kovalick updated the council on the status of the 2016 CDBG application.
According to previously published GANT News articles, the borough had accumulated a total of $298,000 in CDBG allocations from previous years, for sidewalk and curb improvements on Third Street between Pine and Locust streets.
However, the Department of Community and Economic Development told the borough that an income survey would need to be conducted for the borough to determine if enough residents meet the low-to-moderate income requirements.
Kovalick said a committee was formed and the borough began an income study of the area, which will be affected by the project. Unfortunately, Kovalick said too many residents in that area were above the income limits.
The borough will use those funds to address stormwater issues in the East End area. The project will be completed using the money accumulated from previous grant cycles, due to the extent of the work required to remediate the stormwater and street improvements.
Kovalick said the borough must sign a sponsorship agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection. The borough had asked for assistance from DEP during the 1990’s, following extensive flooding. The flooding caused deterioration of roads, culverts, sidewalks and yards. A significant amount of the flooding was caused by a waterway known as “Stinky Run.”
Flood studies have shown that most of the water from Stinky Run flows through an enclosed culvert system that passes through backyards and under the streets into the river. The existing system is inadequate and clog, which results in flooding.
Following the study, DEP designed a flood protection project, which will be funded partly by the Department of General Services. The total costs of the project will be about $1.3 million.
The borough will work with DEP to remediate the storm sewers being over-filled by Stinky Run. The borough will need to relocate water, sewer and gas lines and obtain the permanent and temporary easements for the construction.
Kovalick said DEP will fund the flood protection project and the borough will use their CDBG funding for the utility relocation and obtaining the easements. Once the construction is completed, the borough will replace insufficient drainage systems and install new systems where they are needed, as well as removing and replacing the damaged roads.
Kovalick said the borough will use $82,930 of their 2016 CDBG allocation for the Stinky Run project and $18,200 for program administration.
She said the Clearfield County Commissioners will be voting on the project on behalf of the borough at the Dec. 13 meeting. The Clearfield Borough Council will submit the CDBG application to the Department of Community and Economic Development no later than Dec. 16.