SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized the Redevelopment Authority of the County of McKean to file the appropriate application with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to secure funds on behalf of projects the commissioners have determined represent the best use of the county’s 2018 Community Development Block Grant Program.
These entitlement funds are $50,000 each for the LMI housing rehabilitation programs in Lewis Run, Kane Borough and Foster Township, and $44,715 for the county’s spot demolition program for non-entitlement municipalities.
The county has been allocated $333,635 in the Commonwealth’s Community Development Block Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2018. The balance of this funding will be used for program administration.
In a separate vote, the commissioners will authorize the county redevelopment authority to file for $76,220 for the township’s housing rehabilitation program and $10,000 for the spot demolition program. Again, the balance of the funds will be used to administer the programs.
A third housing rehabilitation resolution — this one in Kane Borough — also gained the nod. The revised 2015 HOME contract will increase the limit for each housing rehab from $60,000 to $65,000 if there are no environmental issues and from $65,000 to $70,000 if there are environmental issues to be addressed.
According to another resolution, McKean County set its goal for the use of minority and women-owned businesses through contracts for public works, site clearance, supplies and services, a goal of .5 percent for the 2018 Community Development Block Grant. This rate will be used by the grantee’s administrative agency, the McKean County Redevelopment Authority.
As part of preparing contract documents, McKean County will analyze the specific construction, site clearance, and demolition projects and determine for each specific contract a goal and percentage amount which represents in the judgement of the county and/or redevelopment authority as to the maximum feasible involvement of minority and/or women-owned businesses.
A renewed fair housing resolution states that it is the policy of the county to implement programs ensuring equal opportunity in housing for all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, age and ancestry.
In another renewed agreement, the county commissioners, on behalf of McKean County’s Community Development Block Grant entitlement, will adhere to a June 8, 1992, displacement policy to meet the CDBG requirements, which state the county redevelopment authority will not, as a general policy, undertake activities that would involve the displacement of residents unless such activities are to be in the best interest of the county or municipality.
The commissioners authorized Bradford’s Office of Economic and Community Development to be the designated applicant and to prepare the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund on the county’s behalf.
Bradford City proposes to use 2018 PHARE funding to construct two new fill-in homes in the city’s Second Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Neighborhood and provide assistance to low income homeowners residing in the city with grants to repair and improve their homes to meet housing code standards.
The application to the PHARE program seeks $75,000 to be appropriated to Bradford’s OECD.
Included in the information OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews provided to the commissioners during this meeting, that funding would be used as follows: $55,000 for the two homes, $15,000 to be used with HOME/CDBG funding to rehab single family homes on a city-wide basis; and $5,000 for PHARE Administration.
The same information showed examples of new housing construction on Elm Street using PHARE money, photos of acquisition and demolition projects on Congress Place and the resulting new housing.
Northwest Bank, Zippo Manufacturing and American Refining Group have been private investors in these projects.
The county is to enter into a notice of intent with the Department of State for requesting $39,584.46 in HAVA Grant funds for the purchase or lease of new HAVA-compliant voting systems.
With a five percent match from the state, the Department of state will disbursing $14,149,964 to the counties to use toward voting equipment replacements and upgrades to ensure voters are using the most secure, accessible and resilient voting machines available.
Two county aid applications were approved. Hamilton Township plans to use its $1,959 for a future project. The $1,067 going to Sergeant Township is earmarked for purchasing sand and road salt for winter maintenance.
Real estate tax refunds were Ok’d for two properties. One, for $261.86, corrects an error in assessment for the years 2013-16 for American Biochemical and Refining Inc. in Bradford Township. A Partnership in Housing property in Bradford’s 3rd Ward was granted tax exempt status for 2018, resulting in a $162.84 refund.
In other business, commissioners:
*appointed machine inspectors for the Nov. 4 general election;
*authorized the county to enter into a settlement agreement and mutual limited release with Avanco International Inc. for the Department of Human Services;
*accepted a grievance from the jail; and
* appointed Lawrence Feick to complete the unexpired term of Dr. Livingston Alexander that expires on Dec. 31 as the Educators/Workforce Development representative.
