FARRELL

The Farrell Recreation Commission will most likely accept an approximate $600 contribution from Wheatland for this year's summer recreation program, but wants to come up with a formula for next year's contribution.

Earlier this month, Wheatland council discussed a letter from the financially strapped recreation commission asking for money. The commission's annual Community Development Block Grant from the City of Farrell is frozen because of bookkeeping problems and the Farrell Area School District reduced its contribution by $7,500 this year.

The commission runs an eight-week summer recreation program at playgrounds in Wheatland and Farrell and maintains the playgrounds during that time.

Wheatland Mayor Tom Stanton came up with a formula for the borough's contribution by suggesting dividing Farrell's $5,000 contribution by its population of 6,050 residents to come up with a per-person ratio, then applying that ratio to Wheatland's 748 people, which comes out to $618.

However, costs of the Wheatland playground -- including two playground instructors, equipment, maintenance and workman's compensation -- comes out to $2,120 for the entire eight-week program, said recreation commission Chairman Riley Smoot.

Commission member Lou Falconi suggested the commission should provide the staffing, but the borough should maintain the playground.

Another suggestion was that Wheatland pay 25 percent of the commission's playground costs, since the commission runs four playgrounds. Three are in Farrell and one is in Wheatland.

The commission discussed putting together a proposal for a contribution to give to Wheatland council at the beginning of next year, before recreation season.

The commission's next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 22 in the conference room at the Farrell city building.