Crooked Creek ELC, Apollo Borough Receive County Aid

 

The Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center in Ford City will received some funding from the Armstrong County Commissioners in the near future.

Commissioners during last week’s public meeting pledged $5,000 from the County’s Marcellus Legacy Fund toward the Armstrong Educational Trust for operational costs associated with the location.

Marcellus Shale Coordinator Carly Cowan asked for the board’s adoption in a resolution.

“We feel it is a good fit for the intended use of the funds,” Cowan said.

Funding used to be provided for the building upkeep through General Fund dollars.

In January, $30,000 was dedicated to the Kittanning Revitalization Project along Market Street.
Armstrong County received nearly $58,500 in the fund for 2012 and about $1,000 for 2013.
Cowan said both funds will keep raising revenue as long as wells keep producing.
In January, Cowan explained there is no deadline for spending funds from the Marcellus Legacy Fund.
According to a provision under Act 13, revenues from the Marcellus Legacy Fund for open space may be used for the planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, natural areas, community conservation and beautification projects, community and heritage parks and water resource management.
Funds may also be used to acquire lands for recreational or conservation purposes and land damaged or prone to drainage by storms or flooding.
More than $10,000 in County funding will also be allocated toward an Apollo Borough project.

Commissioners adopted a resolution brought forth by Planning and Development Executive Director Rich Palilla to approve the application for the 2013 Liquid Fuels County Aid Program for the First Street Intersection Improvement Project.

“Apollo has put together a project for handicapped ramp improvements and upgrades to traffic signals at the (Route 56 and 66) intersection,” Palilla said. “It is a major intersection in the community and Roaring Run Trail comes through there – so there is heavy usage between pedestrians in the community and trail-users.”

Both Community Development Block Grant funds and state grant funds are being utilized to complete this project.

Several agreements were also made with those who assist the Area Agency on Aging home-based or community senior centers – including an agreement that maintained the Older Worker Employment Program as it currently is through September 2014.

Three Eagle Scouts – Todd Armentrout, Luke Dzugan and Kody McConnell - within Troop 676 were also recognized by proclamation. Six scouts within the troop have reportedly become Eagle Scouts within the past year.

All three commissioners applauded them on their achievement.