by Jonathan Weaver
An effort to identify blighted properties has indeed begun in Armstrong County.
East Franklin Township Zoning Officer Greg McKelvey reports to Township Supervisors David Stewart and Dan Goldinger about the area’s efforts to curb blight, aside from receiving the survey form from Armstrong County officials.
Elected municipal leaders this month received letters from county commissioners asking them to “identify the extent of blight in your communities and the efforts you are making to address this problem.”
“Based on the results of this survey, we will begin to develop tools and techniques which will help you address blight,” the letter read. “We also hope to develop a program which will enable blighted properties to be reclaimed and again become local assets in our local communities.”
East Franklin Township Zoning Officer Greg McKelvey said East Franklin officials have also been working on curbing blight. He will be working on the survey in early-March.
“I don’t have any miracles to report, but I have had fair cooperation at least in starting communication with some of these people in terms of action plans,” McKelvey said. “Hopefully as time goes on here, we can start to make positive things happen in that regard.”
North Buffalo Township Supervisor Chair David Wolfe valued input from local residents in completing the survey.
“I’m a firm believer in the more people you get involved, the better ideas come out. Not one of us have all the answers,” Wolfe said.
In mid-January, Armstrong County Commissioners Pat Fabian, Jason Renshaw and George Skamai acknowledged the receipt of a $100,000 state Economic Development and Community Development Initiatives Program grant to address blight remediation.
County Planning and Development Executive Director Rich Palilla said the grant was obtained after discussions with State Senator Don White (Armstrong/Indiana) about community revitalization. He said discussions with elected officials indicate the problem is found in various parts of the county.
In the event that a focused property is already undergoing community development, the impacted property can be purchased using budgeted money for demolition or renovation.
Palilla added last month that while many municipalities have building codes or nuisance ordinances, they are difficult to enforce.
“What we want to do is make sure that our local municipalities know what’s available to them and provide technical assistance if they want to more-aggressively enforce,” Palilla added.
Palilla characterized the grant as “a seed grant to get a program started.” County officials have discussed other sources of revenue.
Armstrong County has never received a similar special purpose grant through the Department of Community and Economic Development. Projects have to be executed by June 2018.
