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Volunteers Needed to Distribute CDBG Income Surveys

East Franklin Township Supervisor Chair Barry Peters said supervisors need some help from local residents to distribute Community Development Block Grant income surveys. The return of enough surveys would allow supervisors to designate grant funds for an ultraviolet disinfection system at the Cowansville sewage plant - a project that would ultimately reduce costs.

by Jonathan Weaver

For East Franklin Township to cut costs this summer, they’d like to get some help from local residents.

The three supervisors – including Chair Barry Peters and Working Supervisor David Stewart (the sewage operator) - hope to cut down on chemical costs with an ultraviolet disinfection system at the Cowansville plant – if they can get it approved through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

Peters explained previously that the disinfection equipment would be used instead of chlorine.

To designate funds for the equipment, affected residents need to complete an income survey to validate their low-to-moderate income status.

During November 2015’s budget workshop, supervisors approved to use General Fund expenses to pay off a deficit in the sewage fund. In 2015, a $13,750 deficit was paid off and in 2016, that number is expected to exceed $20,500 due to rising electric, chemical and equipment costs.

Even though the more-than 230 sewage customers pay enough to offset most of the $170,000 in regular expenses, it does not account for Stewart’s full-time or Secretary Carla Scholl’s wages.

At that time, Stewart said he has even tried in-house ways to cut back on utilizing electric, but it doesn’t make a difference.

In August 2015, then-County Community Division Director Jennifer Bellas estimated that the Cowansville plant updates would cost about $156,000.

Supervisors ultimately decided to designate more than $67,000 in CDBG money aside for housing rehabilitation after only 56 of the necessary 85 surveys were returned, but the project was kept in-mind if surveys are returned appropriately. Results from previous surveys cannot be re-counted.

Income surveys were also recently distributed door-to-door for residents along Sampson Street in Kittanning Borough.

Elected Council members hope to reconstruct the street and need to provide current estimates of the incomes of the residents of the service area, according to Project Manager Sally Conklin.

Even though council members originally decided to repair West High Street from Water Street to North McKean, the block of Sampson Street from Dewey Street to Campbell Street is the second option.

Borough Council members have approximately 20 other project proposals on their three-year plan –including renovating the Community Park playground, reconstructing several streets, sidewalks or curbs, and constructing a roof to cover the John P. Murtha Amphitheater.

Officials regularly state that information from any income surveys will be kept confidential before ultimately being destroyed.

To volunteer, residents should contact the township at 724-543-2310.

Local News | jweaver July 20, 2016