SMETHPORT — McKean County officials are helping International Waxes find funding for an upcoming project.
At their meeting on Tuesday, McKean County commissioners approved a request to help the company, located on Route 46 and East Valley Road in Keating Township, apply for a $1 million loan from the Commonwealth Financing Authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
International Waxes plans to use the grant for a natural gas distribution pipeline made of steel, according to the commissioners’ resolution.
Sherri Geary, McKean County’s director of economic development, has been authorized to assist in obtaining the grant.
Commissioners also approved a request for accounts associated with the Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Program be released to the control of the McKean County Conservation District.
Following administrative changes made by the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission to the program, conservation districts are expected to be in charge of managing funds from the commission to the program, as well as for administering the program within counties.
In 2018, the conservation district is working on 12 dirt and gravel projects for a total of $485,951.19 and three low volume projects for a total of $63,994.
An increase in funding is one reason behind the change. The district’s allocation for the Dirt & Gravel program has increased more than tenfold in the past few years, increasing from $23,270.41 in 2012 to a current allocation of $284,578.
Justin Lund, county recycling director, brought the group up to date on recycling activities.
He said recycling bins that had been located at the 3G Barn on U.S. Route 6 in Smethport are being moved to the Shawmut trailhead on the west side of Route 6 before the Marvin Street Bridge. The bins are being moved while updates are made to the site.
Lund also announced the date of a McKean County collection event for electronics and household hazardous waste.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28 at the McKean County Fairgrounds, 7172 Route 46, Smethport. People must pre-register to attend, which they will be able to do online at www.ecsr.net, by visiting the Facebook page or website of the conservation district or calling the district at 887-4017.
There is a per-pound cost currently set at $1.60/pound for household hazardous waste; $0.55/pound for all tube/CRT televisions and monitors; $1.60/pound for universal waste; $0.35/pound for all non-CRT devices; $6.35/pound for mercury containing devices; and $0.63/pound for small freon-containing devices.
Acceptable electronics include computers, TVs, printers, microwaves, stereos, copiers, fax machines, cell phones, DVD players and gaming systems.
Acceptable household waste includes household cleaning products, oil- and latex-based paints, wood/metal cleaners and polish, stains/finishes, batteries, light bulbs, fuel additives, pool chemicals, antifreeze, aerosols, herbicides, pesticides, motor oil in a closed container and bug spray.
Commissioners granted a real estate tax exemption to the Borough of Kane for the 2018 tax year for a municipal-owned building at 230 Biddle St. The property value is assessed at $7,200.
