Ford City Hopes to Take On Improvement Projects
by Jonathan Weaver
While paving projects may not be undertaken this summer, Ford City Borough Manager Eden Ratliff hopes to receive quotes from companies such as the Kittanning Sewage Authority to clean storm lines and catch basins.
“Storm line cleaning definitely needs to happen – our catch basins are filthy. They’re very full of debris and things that need to be cleaned out,” Ratliff said. “The storm lines are no different – I imagine some of them can be half-full.
Infrastructure under Ford City roadways - such as this alley behind the Mantini Funeral Home on 6th Avenue - continue to worry Borough Council members before paving projects are completed.
“For the purposes of trying to come up with a price, I assumed that they were all 12-inch lines and probably half full – which would take eight hours to work on – 500 feet long, four basins. To (clean) the entire town at once with the cheapest price I have now is going to be $130,000.
“It’s expensive.”
Council members met with Gibson-Thomas Engineer Dan Schmidt Thursday and reviewed plans to fix Ridge Avenue.
Council Vice-President Jerry Miklos reiterated several points he made last week at the Borough Council meeting regarding the street.
“It makes no sense to do paving if you have underlying problems because you’re not going to solve anything,” Miklos said.
He pointed out specifically the alley behind the Mantini Funeral Home that was not being milled properly and has caused flooded parking lots.
“We have to do better in any future paving project, and I think it starts with the foundation. Before they come in and pave, there has to be suitable drainage,” Miklos said.
Councilwoman Vicki Schaub explained this is caused due to the storm sewer drain and bricks are on a higher elevation than avenue garages
“We need to get these underlying problems taken care of first,” Schaub said. “I have a feeling there’s more deterioration underground than we have any idea of.”
She hoped for a long-term plan to address local streets and roadways – which Borough Planning Commission Member Tyson Klukan mentioned at the last meeting as well.
“Eventually, it will be only top coating because you did the foundation on all the roads,” Ratliff said.
“But, it’s going to be a lot of money over time.”
Officials were not sure the last time those basins were cleaned out.
Klukan wondered if the project could be paid for utilizing liquid fuels dollars to build a database on the town’s infrastructure.
Schaub said officials are also looking for grants to complete similar projects.
Ratliff suggested working with neighboring municipalities to ensure the work is completed at the lowest price possible.
“To rent them per hour is expensive, but if a bunch of municipalities came together and all chipped in, you’re saving costs,” Ratliff said. “I know sharing services isn’t always the most well-received, but to share costs is to get the most accomplished.”
Miklos said the municipality must be willing to look at all options if they are committed to the project.
Last night, Council members also discussed plans to go forward with efforts to eliminate blighted properties in town, much like Kittanning Borough has done the past few years.
Before the end of 2014, Kittanning Borough Council allocated $20,000 in 2015 toward blight elimination at several properties throughout town and has eliminated a handful of properties.
Borough Planning Commission Member Tyson Klukan wondered if liquid fuel dollars could help clean the catch basins needed and said there are many State and Federal funding options available to combat blight in the area.
Klukan said the Blight to Life program was first addressed locally by former Planning Commission Member Cody Atherton. He has since received further information from a strategic blight program that was done in the eastern part of the state through a consulting firm
“It seems like there’s a lot of houses on the market,” Klukan said.
Klukan discussed many possible state and federal funding sources, including the Community Development Block Grant program and the Keystone Communities Program. He was also interested to look more if effort could be put into land along the Allegheny River
“I know money’s the big key here, but it’s good to see what options (are available), Klukan said.
Klukan also provided council members an example blighted development form to complete a database of blighted properties. He read one question where it asked if the property is dangerous to children because of any holes, abandoned wells or excavations and another wondering if the property has become a place for the accumulation of trash or debris.
“They’re very detailed, and I think that’s what we want,” Klukan said. “This is a big step forward against blight and taking away eyesores.”
Schaub said she is taking the issue of blighted properties “very seriously.”
“There are some that definitely need to come down,” Schaub said.
Miklos mentioned the tax abatements available to people to make improvements, but mentioned there are not many locally that take advantage of it.
By whatsupwithyou, July 28, 2015 @ 4:39 PM
I have a $100 bet that the bid goes to ASH.