Act 13 money from Marcellus Shale drilling has helped many municipalities and also conservation organizations among others; however, with the industry moving out of the area, municipalities have been seeing less and less of the money in recent years.
At Tuesday’s Lawrence Township Supervisors’ meeting, it was revealed that the township will only be receiving $295,403.70, about $54,596 less than the township budgeted for 2020.
When Act 13 money was first dispersed, the township was receiving close to a million dollars each year.
The money has been used to pay for two full-time and all of the part-time police officers, as well as being used for paving projects, donations to the fire department and also some put aside for later use.
This year, the township will need to reevaluate how to use the money beyond the police department and to tighten belts even further.
The supervisors also noted that there have been rumors that the state will be cutting allotments in half next year.
The supervisors approved signing paperwork for a county-wide DUI Task-force grant. Part of the money will be used to put detail lettering on the new DUI trailer donated by Cambria County. The work will be done by Full Throttle of Clearfield.
In other business, the supervisors accepted a bid from T. English Contracting to build a salt shed at the new location once the township has taken full possession.
The bid was for $71,500 with $58,000 for the building and $13,500 for the floor.
The supervisors signed paperwork under Act 1973, which acknowledges that the supervisors are aware that the building is located in a floodplain.
The township is working to have the property re-certified, but Solicitor Jim Naddeo recommended signing the papers also.
Under supervisor reports, Randy Powell announced that the compost site will reopen Wednesday evening. It had been closed Monday and Tuesday so that the work crew could clean out rubbish.
Residents are reminded to obey posted signs indicating what can be left there, and to also take material to the back of the site, adding that cameras are in use.