SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners on Tuesday awarded the contract for the re-roofing project at the courthouse to David Maines and Associates of Lewistown for a combined total of $508,103.
This amount includes the base quote of $317,276 and an alternate bid of $190,827 for long-lasting composite roofing tile, one of three choices for which companies were asked to submit quotes.
Houck Services Inc. was the only other company to follow through with the bidding process after the quotes were opened last week. That company’s combined bid was $522,250.
Due to numerous attempts to remedy the types of problems with a failed gutter system due to high winds and torrential rains, leading to interior water damage, commissioners consulted with an architect for this project, according to Ed Tronetti, maintenance director. The architect recommended these roofing tiles that have at least a 50-year life.
This project is divided into two parts. Work on the first half, the front section, is expected to begin as soon as possible with possible completion this fall. Replacing the other half is slated for next spring.
In other news, commissioners accepted the conditional awarding of funds from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund in the amount of $70,000 for the McKean County Housing Bridge Subsidy and Diversion to address housing needs.
Commissioners approved the U. S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Performance Grant Agreement for Fiscal Year 2020, amounting to $69,657 for expenditures in the performance period from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020.
Two applications for County Aid from Liquid Fuels were OKd. Eldred Borough will use its allocated $1,492.01 for wages and rental equipment for the Edson Street storm drain project. Port Allegany plans to encumber its allocation of $4,274.88 for future projects.
Commissioners also agreed to re-extend the Kane Borough Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Ordinance for five years from Sept. 1, 2020, to Sept.r 1, 2025.
A taxpayer refund was approved for Miller Group Holdings of Schuylkill Haven for a parcel in Lafayette Township for taxes that were paid at discount on an assessment that was approved for an abatement under a Keystone Opportunity. The county tax amounts to $7,522, while the township tax amounts to $2,149.28.
In a personnel matter, Jon Peterson was re-appointed to a five-year term with the McKean County Redevelopment Authority Board, beginning Nov. 22.
During her report, Commissioner Carol Duffy noted that behavioral health and substance disorder treatment services applications of CARES funding are due Friday. The same deadline is for applications from nonprofit assistance programs for 501©(3) organizations.
Among these are religious, educational, charitable, scientific, library, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition and prevention of cruelty to children or animals’ groups.
For those small businesses with fewer than 100 employees and that did not receive funding through the Federal Paycheck Protection Program for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program established under the CARES Act, the deadline for applications has been extended to Oct. 23.
McKean County has initiated McKean County CARES, a grant funded through the approximately $3.6 million the county received through the County Relief Block Grant from the federal CARES Act.
Guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the block grants authorize counties to distribute funding to offset the cost of direct county responses to COVID-19.
Commissioners will meet again at 10 a.m., Oct. 13.
