SMETHPORT — At Tuesday’s meeting, the McKean County commissioners heard an update on the ARPA Whole Home Repair Program.
Betsy Eobstel from McKean County Housing and Redevelopment Authority explained they had a waiting list, and still weren’t able to accommodate everyone.
“We applied for the grant,” she said, adding $372,689 was received. “The main category was home repair, 80 percent of the grant was for that.”
She said the grant was rolled out June 1, but a waiting list was already in place. “People had heard about it in March. We had over 60 requests. We accepted them on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Improvements included roofing, soffit, facia, windows, doors, siding, insulation, furnaces and boilers, sidewalk replacement and ADA improvements.
Homeowners were permitted to choose their own contractors, as long as they were registered with the state. “It made things a little bit easier,” she said.
Grants were limited to $24,999, which allowed them to help 14 people. “It went much smoother than we anticipated,” she said. People in several municipalities were helped. “The last one was an elderly lady in Kane who had atrocious sidewalks.”
Eobstel said the program has been wonderful. “We’re hoping they offer it again in the spring. We have a waiting list of 30 people.”
Also at the meeting, commissioner chairman Tom Kreiner gave an update on the emergency systems improvement project that has been underway in the county.
“We’re in the final stages of our 911 radio rollout,” he said. “Last week, the sheriff’s department went live, Monday the police went live. (Wednesday night) at 6 the fire departments and ambulance services will go live on the system. It’s been a long time coming and we’re glad to see it come to fruition.”
During the meeting, Kreiner and commissioner Carol Duffy — commissioner Cliff Lane was absent — approved a change of service for Brenda Langan, finance director, who left the county’s employ on the 10th. Kreiner said she had a lengthy drive to come to work each day, and the two wished her well.
A local share account grant application of $104,182 was approved. Ann Robinson, economic development liaison, said it will cover the cost and outfitting of a transport van for the sheriff’s department.
Board appointments were made at the meeting. Michael Schuppenhauer was named to the McKean County Redevelopment Authority Board for a five-year term; Robert Douglas to McKean County Housing Authority for a five-year term; and Ruth Kelley to the McKean County Housing Authority for a five-year term.
Commissioners approved a $16,306.62 ARPA reimbursement from the City of Bradford for blight remediation; for $4,498.09 in county aid from Annin Township from liquid fuel funds; and for $4,455.38 in ARPA funds from Corydon Township for a parks and recreation project.
A McKean County Jail detention agreement was entered into with Cameron County for housing inmates at a cost of $65 per day, an increase of $5 per day that will take effect Jan. 1.
The next meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 28.
