$3 million in stimulus money two months away, North Hutingdon officials told
May 16—North Huntingdon will get about $3 million from the federal American Rescue Plan for a variety of public projects, but township officials were told not to expect the check right away.
It could be another 60 days before North Huntingdon gets the money under the stimulus relief package that Congress passed in March, township manager Jeff Silka told the commissioners last week.
The money would be allocated to the municipality from the state, Silka said, but it won't be in one lump sum. Fifty percent will be distributed first, with the remainder coming sometime later, Silka said. Township administrators learned more about the how the funds will be allocated and guidelines for using the money during a recent briefing, with another one scheduled for June, the manager said.
"It's not a check that can be spent on whatever we want," such as pensions or employee wages, Silka said.
North Huntingdon can use some of the money for long-discussed modifications to the Town House, which houses the administrative offices, including planning and zoning and recreation and parks, as well as the police department.
Since the North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority vacated the second floor of the municipal building and moved into its offices along Turner Valley Road, officials have discussed reallocating space in the building.
The planning and zoning office could be moved upstairs, and the detectives would relocate to that space. Chief Robert Rizzo previously told the commissioners moving the detectives upstairs not only would give them more space but would allow for a room where they can conduct interviews during an investigation.
Among the projects the township can spend the stimulus funding on are improvements to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in the Town House.
When questioned by Commissioner Ronald Zona about that project, Silka said it has been designed and could be advertised for bids in June.
The township has discussed the need for several stormwater projects, which also could be eligible for the stimulus money.
"This is a New Deal kind of thing," Silka said, referring to the funding of public works programs under the New Deal initiated during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
The township also can recoup $266,000 in revenue it lost in 2020 because of the pandemic, compared with 2019, Silka said. But the township actually lost only $166,000 in revenue last year, because it had transferred about $100,000 from a capital fund account to the general fund. He said he was not certain how the federal government would account for that transfer of money in any allowable reimbursement.
"Our revenues weren't that negatively impacted," Silka said.
Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at 724-836-5252, jnapsha@triblive.com or via Twitter .
