The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002

FARRELL

City shifts CDBG funds to services

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

Farrell city officials have altered their proposed Community Development Block Grant budget to allow for more public service allocations.

The proposal does not honor all the requests that were made for the highly sought after source of funding.

Officials have tentatively reduced the amount of money they plan to spend on street and alley repairs by $8,000 and moved those funds to public services.

"Council wanted to try to do something," said City Manager LaVon Saternow. "We know there's a need."

The total for public services, $29,400, still is far short of the $57,000 the city could give and stay within CDBG regulations.

The city will receive a total CDBG grant of $380,195.

Council is looking to allocate the public service money this way:

  • Shenango Valley Urban League, $7,000 for housing counseling and $5,000 for human relations investigations.

  • Community Food Warehouse, $2,400.

  • Rodent control, $2,000.

  • Recreation, $10,000 for the Farrell Recreation Commission and Mercer County Regional Council of Government's Chestnut Run swim beach in South Pymatuning Township. It hasn't been determined how much COG will get, the amount likely will be less than the $2,500 it had requested, Mrs. Saternow said.

  • Prince of Peace Center, Farrell, $2,500 for emergency and family support.

  • Wheels to Work, which gives used cars to people who need transportation to get to work, $500.

    Prince of Peace had requested $10,000 and Wheels to Work $1,000.

    The budget does not fund requests from Mercer County Housing Coalition, which asked for $2,500 for emergency housing for city residents; Southwest Gardens Economic Development Corp., $6,400 for utilities and other expenses; and Unity House, a shelter for men recovering from drug and alcohol addictions run by Southwest Gardens, $3,600.

    The budget also allocates $124,000 for street and alley repairs; code enforcement, $85,000; urban renewal, $100,000; and the cost of administering the grant, $55,000.

    These streets and alleys are pegged for work:

  • Idaho Street from Broadway to Spearman Ave.

  • Lee Avenue from Roemer Boulevard to Idaho.

  • Fruit Avenue from Kishon Street to Highland Street.

  • The alley that runs between the 1200 block of Roemer and Webster Street, from Stambaugh Avenue to just short of Indiana Avenue.

    Council will approve a final CDBG application at 4 p.m. Monday.

    You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at jpinchot@sharon-herald.com



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