Mercer County Regional Council of Governments is asking Sharpsville for a portion of its Community Development Block Grant money to establish a free bus service to Chestnut Run Swim Beach for residents with low to moderate incomes and senior citizens.

Melissa Koch, COG's regional recreation and park specialist, asked for $2,500 at a public hearing on the use of the borough's CDBG money Wednesday at the Sharpsville Municipal Building.

The borough is getting $117,358 for the 2002 CDBG program through the state Department of Community and Economic Development. It typically uses the money for housing rehabilitation, street and road repairs and sometimes water lines, said Mourice Waltz of Waltz Planners and Consultants, the firm that handles Sharpsville's CDBG program, which is intended to benefit low- to moderate-income residents.

COG is asking Sharpsville, Sharon and Farrell to money to set up bus service to take low- to moderate-income residents and senior citizens to Chestnut Run Swim Beach, Ms. Koch said.

Bus service would run five days a week for 10 weeks in the summer, Ms. Koch said. Communities that provide funds will be able to participate, she said.

COG plans to target residents of Sharpsville Gardens and Mertz Towers for the program, but others can participate if they provide proof of their status, Ms. Koch said.

Ms. Koch said she would get a list of residents' names from both Sharpsville Gardens and Mertz Towers and check off their names as they get on the bus.

Three days a week Shenango Valley Shuttle Service would pick up residents at Sharpsville Gardens, Ms. Koch said. Two days a week Mercer County Transit Authority would pick up Mertz Towers residents, she said.

Waltz said the borough is also looking at using the money to repair water lines and sewer laterals for residents with low to moderate incomes.

A second public hearing on the borough's CDBG money is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. March 11. Sharpsville council's next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. March 13.