Ford City Planners Discuss Upcoming School Closure Tonight
Tyson Klukan represented the Ford City Planning Commission during an Armstrong School District public hearing two weeks ago in regard to the pending closure of three community schools, including Ford City Junior-Senior High. The topic will be discussed by Ford City planners at their monthly meeting tonight.
by Jonathan Weaver
Ford City planners will delve into both an upcoming issue and a interesting mineral rights offer when they meet tonight.
Councilman Gene Banks, who is also chair of the Economic Development committee, invited Borough Council President Kathy Bartuccio and Council Vice-President Jerry Miklos to attend the meeting scheduled for 7PM as well.
Banks said agenda items to be discussed include the upcoming closing of Ford City Junior-Senior High School along 5th Avenue – which should occur at or shortly after graduation in June – and an offer from Snyder Brothers of Kittanning for mineral rights to at least three polluted properties owned by Ford City, including at the old dump site across the Allegheny River.
“Tyson Klukan, our Planning Commission Chairman, had some very good ideas on what to do. We want to take a stab on economic development here, trying to get some jobs and be proactive,” Banks said.
Both Banks and Klukan – a 2010 Ford City High graduate - attended a school board hearing at Lenape Elementary January 22 and looked forward to meeting with school and County officials in regard to marketing the school property to future businesses.
“We want to see economic development in Ford City and the county alone. It’s not just about Ford City – it’s about the region,” Klukan said after the school board hearing. “It’s going to take all of us together to get a solid, concrete plan and move forward.”
He also asked school board directors for the cost to tear down the school – which has been open since 1909 -, as well as costs to tear down Kittanning Junior High and Kittanning Senior High when they also close at the end of this school year. Students from all three schools will attend the newly-constructed Armstrong Junior-Senior High in Manor Township this fall.
Banks - an advocate for economic development who spearheaded discussion with Armstrong County Commissioner Chair Dave Battaglia, former Marketing and County Enhancement Director Allison Ball and County Department of Economic Development Manager Justin Nolder just a few months after taking office in 2012- read a request from a resident proposing one of the buildings being converted into a community college or a learning center – such as the Bidwell Cultural and Training Center in Pittsburgh.
Banks’ sons – Eugene, Jr. and Jonathan – attended courses at the training center and studied culinary and security, respectively.
Ownership of the property would remain with the school district until it is sold or an agreement is made.
The closing school building has also been a topic at other Planning Commission meetings, including in October when members agreed that they didn’t want the structure to become a tax burden on current residents or a site for low-income housing.
At previous Borough Council meetings on the topic, Klukan also suggested reaching out to third-party marketing and website companies to gauge economic interest
“It’s going to cost millions and millions (of dollars) to update that building,” Klukan said at the time. “They make great points, and I value their opinion, but we need a cost analysis of everything.”
The meeting will be held at the Ford City Borough office.
By blutoblutarsky, February 4, 2015 @ 10:08 AM
Does anyone have the full details of the Snyder brothers offer? Is there a royalty involved for Ford City or just a straight one-time cash payment?
KP, here is a perfect opportunity to inform your readers.
By forward, February 5, 2015 @ 12:28 AM
Bluto , the kp has advertising from a SB owned business…. NOT that it means anything….;)
By savvynewshound, February 5, 2015 @ 6:35 AM
My understanding it is a one time payment with no royalties.
By blutoblutarsky, February 5, 2015 @ 11:44 AM
forward- If that is the reason for the lack or reporting, then that’s sad and also a potential red flag.
The Snyder deal may even be a good one for Ford City, but the general public will never know if the information is ignored by the local media.
We were however thoroughly informed about Obamacare navigators in todays edition lol
By newvoice, February 5, 2015 @ 4:38 PM
25,000 dollars to Pyle’s campaign fund.He has to think it’s a good deal.
By mad-2010, February 6, 2015 @ 3:42 AM
150,000 and no royalties, doesn’t sound that good to me! Don’t sell the mineral right and just lease the land to Snyder with royalties would a Good deal..
25,000 to Pyle’s campaign is nothing if someone we know steals it, right, NV!!
By mad-2010, February 6, 2015 @ 3:49 AM
150,000 and no royalties, doesn’t sound that good to me! Don’t sell the mineral rights and just lease the land to Snyder with royalties would be a Good Deal..
25,000 to Pyle’s campaign is nothing if someone we know steals it, right, NV!!
By blutoblutarsky, February 6, 2015 @ 7:33 AM
newshound- thanks for the info. I found an article on the LT website last night and read where Gene Banks suggested looking for a better deal. I agree with him. It can’t hurt.
Pyle sounded awfully pushy about it in the article. BIG red flag there.
By waldo, February 6, 2015 @ 11:08 AM
Who in their right mind is going to put anything in a town without a grocery store you are going to put low income housing in a town with no where to get food. Maybe that’s the economic development needed . It would employ some local people and feed the rest of us. Another thought if the police arrested everyone who didn’t clean their walks their salaries for March could have been paid. Another thought don’t take that school from the school district make them take care of it. It’s a giant cash cow to do anything of any value make them tear it down so all the people parked on the sidewalk of 5th ave can park there.
By bob, February 6, 2015 @ 6:33 PM
@ newvoice,
Seriously newvoice, Who let you have access to a computer?
By jorn jensen, February 7, 2015 @ 2:07 PM
bob, I nominate you for the winning comment on this thread.
By blutoblutarsky, February 9, 2015 @ 1:47 PM
mad- Now I know why I recognized that handle here. I’m one of the first to criticize Pyle here, but nobody likes a thief! Good call…