DUBOIS – On Monday night, DuBois City Council authorized Mayor Gary Gilbert and Manager John Suplizio to apply for funding to support a Miracle Field project.
City officials will apply for $1.250 million through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
The DuBois Miracle Field project will see complete renovations to the current softball field in the DuBois City Memorial Park
These renovations will also be to accommodate individuals with special needs who wish to play ball.
In other business, Redevelopment Director Joe Mitchell updated the council on concerns regarding the annual Community Development Block Grants.
According to him, municipalities could see CDBG cuts in President Donald Trump’s proposed budget. “This is huge for the projects we do around here,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell went over how much DuBois City has benefited from the CDBG program.
Since 1999, the city has received $5,811,680.65, and it has been allocated as follows:
- Administration, $976,881.05
- Infrastructure, $709,910.26
- Water/Sewer, $388,025.62
- Recreation, $2,021,022.59
- Economic Development, $336,012.88
- Fire Department, $1,130,792.25
- Library, $106,889
- Blight Removal, $137,147
- Veterans Assistance, $5,000
Dubois City received $400,000 from 2000 through 2004, and it has gradually declined since then.
“It seems every year they threaten to cut a big chunk of it, but then they restore it,” said Mitchell.
Councilwoman Diane Bernardo suggested they use the information to address a letter to the Pennsylvania Municipal League to urge PML to fight the proposed cuts.
Bernardo also brought council’s attention to the deterioration occurring at the DuBois Public Library.
