Grant Agreements Approved for County Senior Center Grants

by Jonathan Weaver

 

At the beginning of October, seven of the 12 Armstrong County senior community centers were awarded a total of nearly-$24,500 in grant funding from the State.

 

Technology and other improvements will be made at the senior community centers in Apollo, Bradys Bend, Freeport, Kittanning, Leechburg, Parker, Rural Valley, and Worthington.

 

Kittanning’s grant includes money allocated for the Brady’s Bend improvements – which will receive nearly $12,000 of the grant award. The other senior centers were awarded between nearly $1,000 and $2,500.

 

Armstrong County Agency on Aging Executive Director Janet Talerico was enthusiastic about the grant process. PA Department of Aging Secretary Brian Duke visited three of those fortunate locations in October and announced the grant improvements coming to Bradys Bend.

 

Approval is pending County Solicitor Chase McClister’s final review.

 

Most of the technological advancements include for improved internet access, the Nintendo Will gaming system and iPod Touch docking capabilities and music downloads.

 

The Elderton senior center was awarded a similar grant in August.

 

County Planning and Development Community Division Director Jennifer Bellas also updated commissioners on a change order for the Downtown Kittanning Revitalization Project.

 

The change order calls for contractor M&B Services of Clarion to build a two-foot-tall wall along the Armstrong Trail at the intersection of Market Street and Grant Street in Kittanning Borough and also install new drainage to an existing inlet – an additional expense of $28,245.90.

 

While the action was approved by Kittanning Borough Council elected officials, county Industrial Development Authority members meet tomorrow and the action is subsequent to Solicitor Chase McClister’s final review and approval.

“All of the parties were informed that this is what we were trying to do and that we were trying to get it in before this weather hit. Right now, the footer has been poured for the wall – when we’ll be able to pour the additional, I’m not sure.

 

This portion may be held off until we get a little better weather,” Bellas said.

 

Last month, commissioners also allocated $16,120 out of the county’s Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund for a retaining wall along North McKean Way as part of the Downtown Kittanning Revitalization Project.

 

Marcellus Shale Coordinator Carly Cowan said about $60,000 in legacy fund dollars were received in 2014 and about the same amount is anticipated for 2015.

 

Commissioners also dedicated $30,000 to the revitalization project through Legacy Fund monies two years ago.

 

Contract renewals were also made between Assistant District Attorneys Cindy Calarie, Kathleen Charlton, George Kepple and McClister and the five Public Defenders: Attorneys Charles Pascal, James Wray, Preston Younkins, Debra Yost and independent esquire Paula Caruso LaStrapes.

 

As per last week’s Salary Board decision, all nine employees were given an $800 raise.