Commissioners approve awarding of bids for curb cutting in Ridgway
RIDGWAY - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) coordinator Becki Taylor with the Elk County Planning Department announced their recommendations for successful bidders for 2021 Ridgway Borough Curb Cut Projects at the Elk County Commissioners meeting on May 9.
Bids had been opened and tabled for review by Ridgway Borough Council at the April 18 meeting. Curb cutting in the Center Street area was requested to be awarded to Steger Masonry with a bid of $97,515, and in the Long Street area, Taylor requested that the bid of $80,515 be awarded to Steger Masonry as well. Bids were unanimously approved as requested.
Taylor also requested re-adopting updates to long-standing policies governing the Citizens Participation Plan for the CDBG program, the Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Plan, and the County of Elk Procurement Policy for CDBG on behalf of the Ridgway Borough.
Taylor explained the plan is in place to promote the opportunity for full participation by minority and women’s business enterprising in all housing and county development programs receiving funds through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
“So, for each project that I am involved with, I am required to reach out to minority and women-owned businesses to see if they’re interested in bidding, and our contractors as well for each project. This is just an update requiring signatures of present commissioners,” concluded Taylor.
She explained also that two public hearings must be held before CDBG funds can be spent.
“We want to be good stewards of those public dollars and invite as much community input as possible,” Taylor said.
Commissioner Matthew Quesenberry acted as chairman for the meeting in the absence of Commissioner M. Fritz Lecker, and he asked for a motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Elk County Conservation District.
“I think for the last two or three years, we’ve been trying to see what can be done to better assist our farm community,” Quesenberry said.
He noted part of that effort was the acquisition of a No-Till Drill which is currently being housed through the Elk County Conservation District.
“We think that's a great partnership and we're looking forward to working with them and hopefully benefiting the agricultural community,” he stated.
The MOU was unanimously approved.
Applications for an allocation of County Liquid Fuels tax funds in the amount of $6,000 was approved for each of the following municipalities:
Ridgway Borough for salt and anti-skid
Jones Township for purchase of 2A stone
Fox Township for paving
Approval of benefits for five veteran burials, one widow burial, and four veteran headstones was given as requested by the Office of Veterans Affairs.
Nancy Baker, Director of Elk County Children and Youth Services (CYS) requested approval for a renewal agreement with Pentz Run Youth Services, a residential program for at risk and disadvantaged youth located in DuBois. Approval was given and the term will run from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Baker also requested a renewal agreement with Keystone Adolescent Center, a 24-bed shelter and residential facility for delinquent and dependent females between the ages of 8 and 21 located in Greenville, PA. Approval was given, and the term will be from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Also approved was a request by Elk County
Ecumenical to place a banner on the courthouse lawn from August 23 through September 8, 2024, advertising Glory Bound, a Christian music festival which will include music, speakers, vendors, and children's entertainment on September 7 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Ridgway carnival grounds. The group also received approval for their request to hold an Old-Fashioned Cake and Ice Cream Social on the courthouse lawn also on September 7.
Quesenberry announced solicitors for the following county departments:
Treasurer's office, Lee Grace Valigorsky, $2,000 per year
Auditors office, Matthew B. Taladay, $1,500 per year
Sheriff's office, Jeff DuBois, $4,200 per year
Coroner's office, Susan
Shanaman, $1,500 per year
Commissioner Greg Gebauer recognized May 6- 11 as Corrections Officers Week, Nurses Recognition Week, and Teacher Recognition Week.
“All three of these professions are very important to the community and the state, and our government as a whole, and we would just like to recognize them,' Gebauer said. “We have a lot of good staff over at the prison, and recognizing our corrections officers is important. We all need the nurses, and they do an outstanding job within our community, as do the teachers. So, I will give a big shout out to all three of those high-demand professional groups.”
Quesenberry announced that applications are now being
accepted for PHEAA students. Details and applications can be found on the County of Elk website. Elk County Chief Clerk Pat Straub commented they were pleased they did get some applications as in 2022 and 2023, no applications were received.
“We have advertised four available slots, and we're hopeful we can fill all of them,” Straub said.
Quesenberry added that “I think it works well for the students, and it certainly works well for us to have that additional help during the summer months.”
The next meeting of the Elk County Commissioners will be on May 23 at 10 a.m. at the Johnsonburg Public Library. Please note the change of venue.