LEWISTOWN - With the U.S. Congress pondering a cut in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, local agencies relying on those monies may have to wait a little longer to find out how much they will receive later this year.
During a public hearing on Thursday, the Mifflin County Commissioners heard recommendations from the Mifflin County CDBG Advisory Committee meeting held last month with regard to CDBG funding requests. Those requests, however, are contingent on whether Congress decides to lower the amount of funding that will be available.
"We were actually advised to hold off on this public hearing because of the crisis in the federal government," stated Jim Lettiere, the county's community development administrator. "As of right now, we do not know how much money we are going to get. We could see a cut as high as 62 percent in federal CDBG monies, which would amount to $80,320. That would be a significant loss."
Lettiere said the committee decided to go ahead and hold Thursday's public hearing to at least give the commissioners an idea of the approved funding levels which, he added, would have to be altered in the event of fewer federal dollars.
During the hearing, Lettiere outlined the following requests and funding recommendations:
$36,387 to the Mifflin County Office of Planning and Development for the county's housing rehabilitation program.
$15,000 to Newton Hamilton Borough for replacement of 6,000 linear feet of water main in the southwest bound lane of Ferguson Valley Road.
$50,000 to Juniata Terrace Borough for trenchless rehabilitation of 1,900 linear feet of terra cotta sanitary sewer line in the borough.
$20,609 to Armagh Township for stormwater management and roadway improvements on Locust Drive.
$16,510 to the SEDA-COG Housing Development Corp. for property acquisition for the Mann Edge site at the intersection of Dorcas and Water streets for the purpose of new housing construction.
$10,000 to the Mifflin County Housing Authority for costs associated with market studies, legal fees, environmental studies, appraisals and borough permit fees for the senior and transitional housing project at the Lewistown Hotel.
$19,796 to the Mifflin-Juniata Dental Clinic to assist with paying salaries of a part-time dentist, dental assistant and hygienist for dental services.
$9,710 to Regional Services Corp. to assist with the purchase of a cargo van for the purpose of transporting congregate and home delivered meals.
$21,988 to SUM Child Development for the purchase of playground equipment for the McVeytown Head Start program.
$47,372 for county administration costs.
Two projects requested CDBG funding but were not recommended for approval: The United Way of Mifflin-Juniata requested $93,000 to renovate and expand its office building located at 13 E. Third St., Lewistown; and Armagh Township requested $44,000 for stormwater management and roadway improvements in the Brown's Addition neighborhood.
Lettiere said once his department receives notification on the county's CDBG allocation, an additional public hearing, followed by a resolution by the commissioners, are necessary before any funds can be distributed.
In other business Thursday, the commissioners:
Approved the hiring of Sarah H. Rosko as a judicial law clerk effective Feb. 28.
Approved the extension of a joint tax collection agreement between the county, Mifflin County School District and Miffco Tax Services Inc. through the end of 2011.
Approved the transfer of Duane Coulter from maintenance laborer to janitor effective Feb. 18.
Approved the transfer of Harry Seby from janitor to maintenance laborer effective Feb. 28.
Accepted the resignation of Ashley Ranck as caseworker supervisor in the Children & Youth Department effective March 8.
Accepted the retirement of Raymond Corson as a corrections officer effective Feb. 25.
Accepted a $200 offer for a parcel located in Derry Township that is currently in repository for unsold properties.
Accepted a $6,000 offer for a parcel located in Decatur Township that is currently in repository for unsold properties.
