SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized the county Redevelopment Authority to file an application for $242,667 in block grant funds from the state.
Community Development Block Grant funding would be on behalf of the county’s 20 non-entitlement municipalities.
According to Garrett Newhouse, community development coordinator for the redevelopment authority, projects included in that amount would be $11,200 for installing ADA door openers in the Port Allegany Borough Building and $10,652 for installing ADA door openers at the S. W. Smith Library also in Port Allegany, as well as $177,377 countywide for the rehabilitation of up to six houses in Port Allegany, Kane, Eldred Borough and Foster Township. The remaining $43,437 will be used for the county to administer the funding.
Commissioners also voted to authorize the redevelopment authority to file an application to secure $100,628 with $82,616 for the Bradford Township Housing and Rehabilitation Program and the balance to administer the program.
In other news, commissioners OKd the CONXXNE agreement for the design-build installation of the CONXXNE communication platform for $1.7 million, which will come from the county’s CARES Act. The county commissioners and the Broadband Task Force have identified the lack of rural internet access as a critical issue for residents required to remotely work, learn, recover or prosper, and this grant funding to improve internet access in McKean County has a very short window to be used or lost.
Also getting approval was the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Fiscal Year 2020 State Homeland Security Grant Program agreement, which will mean the county is to receive $305,543 from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for two years: Sept. 1, 2020 to Aug. 31, 2023.
Commissioners agreed to the contract with Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad as a written agreement between the county and railroads for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements project regarding use, adequate infrastructure, collective bargaining and liability compliance.
Additionally, approval was granted to Kane Borough’s ordinance providing tax exemption for residential properties, LERTA — Residential Properties, Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Ordinance to run until 2025, as OKd by Kane Borough Council.
One application for county aid from the Municipal Liquid Fuels Fund was approved. Annin Township plans to use their $5,382.71 as amendment to their corrected application as submitted, to purchase paving material for resurfacing sections of the township.
Tax exemption status for School 2010 Tax Year was granted to the Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania for its Rutherford Run property. The assessed value of this 1.2 acres is $12,440.
The following bids were accepted for repository sales: William Hodgdon, $500, 29 Linwood Avenue, Bradford; Sara James, $300, 11 Pike Street, vacant parcel, Bradford; Mary Charles, $450, 78 Jefferson Street, Bradford; Robert and Caroline Gobbi, $510, 230 High Street; Peter Palumbo and Martha Palumbo, $300. 41 Cornen Street, and Steven Austin and Celinda Austin Strick, $200, a property on Poplin Avenue.
Jeremy Morey, chairman of the county’s Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census, reported the census is over. No more updates will be given after Oct. 5.
Top municipalities in the self-reporting category were Bradford Township and Wetmore Township. Those with the lowest percentages in the same category were Norwich and Sergeant townships.
Overall, 28,750 residents self-reported.
