Next Step for Recreational Boating: Matching Grant Funds

by Jonathan Weaver

Next Step toward Recreational Boating: Match Funding
By Jonathan Weaver

For more than two years, Locks #6-9 along the Allegheny River in Armstrong County have not been opened to recreational boaters.

But, hope is in sight for Allegheny River Development leaders – if they can just raise about $25,000 in the next four months.

In order to utilize a $120,000 grant provided by the State and open the four locks – including Lock #7 in Kittanning – for the end of April, Allegheny River Development Corporation President Linda Hemmes said last night at a public meeting that community support is necessary.

“It all comes back to all of you – we need to raise another $40,000 this year to match what Jeff Pyle so diligently brought to us in September to get these locks open this year,” Linda said. “We need to start moving forward and using the locks more often and educating people out there to use these locks.”

“We’re at the point where we can’t do it without your support,” Linda said.

Linda and Vice-President Mike Ferris publicly thanked State Rep. Jeff Pyle – even though he was unable to attend because of being in Harrisburg - for working with the ARDC to be on the cusp of the grant award.

“That has made an enormous impact on our fundraising for this year – it’s lifted an enormous weight from all of the board members’ shoulders,” Linda said.

Ferris also encouraged participation, and said sponsorship opportunities and a new membership fee structure has been implemented.

“Here we are – we have this phenomenal opportunity. We have the opportunity to possibly use the locks soon if we keep up the good efforts – but we need the money to do it,” Ferris said.

Treasurer Joshua Starr said about $15,000 has been raised so far – mostly through funds raised during the summer in a pontoon boat raffle

 

Army Corps of Engineers Deputy for Programs and Project Management Lenna Hawkins commended community residents for their dedication to the project. She has been meeting with ARDC leaders to discuss the legal agreement monthly.

Hawkins said while the agreement can be signed in January, money would need to be raised at least a few weeks before the locks are open to allow for recreational boat traffic.

A work plan is thought to be used to manage details

“No matter what, we are not going to spend more money then we have. I’m not going to come back and ask for more money – we’ve worked really diligent with the two groups and are really on-board with utilizing ‘contributed funds.’ This can happen with the money you have.”

“This could be precedent-setting.”

Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Dull joined the Pittsburgh region in July

Upper Monongahela River Association Vice-President Frank Jernejcic also attended the meeting and said his group has raised about half of their funds necessary to fund lock operations this summer.

“I would’ve never thought we would have gotten this far with ‘contributed funds.’ Absolutely impressive,” Jernejcic said. “The Corp has made a really big commitment to this and are firmly behind the effort – it’s up to us now to get the support.”

In April 2013, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers officials recommended ARDC leaders work through a governmental entity – Armstrong County commissioners – and fund the continued lock operations through ‘contributed funds.’

Negotiations began in October, with commissioners as “the face” of contributions.

Another meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled for next week.

Nearly 2,000 hours of operation are tentatively planned for 2015 – beginning hopefully the weekend of April 25-26 and the next 26 weekends thereafter until the end of October.

The tentative operating dates also include the three day Fourth of July Weekend, the three-day Labor Day Weekend, night operations for all the Arts on the Allegheny concerts in Kittanning Riverfront Park and 18 hours Thursday and Friday during the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival.

“This is a multi-billion dollar industry just in the Pittsburgh region,” Linda said. “Let’s get the lockages back to where they belong and make recreational boating huge. We need to be a cohesive group.”

Armstrong County Commissioners Rich Fink and Bob Bower also attended the meeting, as well as Alle-Kiski Strong Chamber Lynda Pozzuto and Representatives from Senator Toomey, Senator Casey and Representative Jeff Pyle’s offices also attended.

Secretary Marty Hemmes – Linda’s husband – was disappointed the ball room was not filled with about 200 people last night and encouraged boaters to tell others to rally for support

 

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  By jorn jensen, December 11, 2014 @ 10:23 AM

  The last great frontier for Armstrong County - tourism. Sure, there’s coal and natural gas, but our last hope for local growth is tourism. We all need to support this effort and get the tourism value out of the river. Four months is short time, over winter, to come up with money - need the activities of summer to generate the needed cash.
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  By jorn jensen, December 14, 2014 @ 6:44 PM

  The hydro-electric generation equipment at some of the dams - I understand that they are private-owned, but doesn’t the government earn money from that in some form? If so, shouldn’t that income be re-invested in the dam, locks and operation?

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