Commissioners choose uses for Act 13 $$ / By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—The McKean County Commissioners made awards of Act 13 “county” funds official at their meeting Tuesday morning. On hand were several pleased municipal representatives.

The county’s share of Act 13 Marcellus Shale funds, other than  what is earmarked for replacement of the Prospect Hill communications tower, will go to infrastructure projects, based on applications by municipalities and scoring by the McKean County Planning Commission.

The scoring process and rankings carried out by the planning commission were advisory in nature, but commissioner  chairman Joe DeMott and fellow commissioners Al Pingie and Cliff Lane agreed with the planning department’s recommendations, made last week.

Commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing the award of $124,140 to Bradford Township for the replacement of the Langmaid bridge on township road T-339 over Marilla Creek.

A second resolution authorized allotment of $64,860 for Norwich Township’s project replacing the West Valley Road bridge over the West Branch of Potato Creek.

Both awards are subject to the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

On hand to thank the commissioners were Gail Bauer and Jim Erwin, Bradford Township supervisors, and Butch Schaffer of Norwich Township, a member of the Planning Commission and a former township supervisor.

Later Schaffer noted that he is anxious to see such resources as are available used for such necessities as repairing infrastructure, unsafe bridges being a major concern and safety issue.

Commissioners voted to authorize applying for a $120,000 housing grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.  The funds would be administered by the county Department of Human Services (DHS).

Also approved, at the department’s request were three service provider pacts, two with The Guidance Center, Bradford, and one with Daniel and Cindy O’Neil, Bradford, as a resource family.

Real estate tax exemptions were endorsed, as presented by chief assessor Angelia Tennies. In Keating Township .19 acre of land off Route 6, East Smethport, are to be used for a veterans’ monument.

In Bradford City, a building will be demolished on .05 acre at 18 Howard Street, for future development.

A building on .2 acre at 13 Maple Street in Duke Center, Otto Township will be removed from tax rolls because it is owned by the township.

A revision of uses of 2012 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds was approved, shifting $3,050.89 left over from Foster Township paving projects for use toward two other projects. $631.80 will be allocated for an Annin Township municipal building accessibility modification, and $2,419.09 will help with a Foster Township program assisting low and middle income residents with sewer connection costs.

A postage machine service agreement costing $711.60 a year was approved. The machine will serve the office of Bradford area magisterial district judge Dominic Cercone.

Also approved was payment of an invoice from the Area Transportation Authority (ATA), for $16,006.25. It represents payment of the agency’s budget allotment covering the first quarter of the year.