Route 61 project in Pottsville detailed
Mar. 9—POTTSVILLE — Businesses in the city affected by the coronavirus pandemic will get relief under grants that will be distributed, while a busy portion of Route 61 will be improved.
Council members Monday approved a resolution to work with the Pottsville Area Development Corp. to distribute money the city received through the Community Development Block Grant program for COVID-19 relief.
City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said at the virtual meeting that the city received $150,000 in grant money through the program, which comes from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. He said he anticipates 10 grants will be available and will be processed on a first come, first served basis, with the amount to be given out ranging from $500 to $15,000.
Businesses eligible to apply have to be operating for at least a year, have a maximum of 20 employees, be in the city and complete an application. The money can be used to cover the cost of equipment, fixtures, furniture, payroll, utilities, insurance, legal services and advertising.
PADCO Executive Director Savas Logothetides said unlike other forms of COVID-19 financial relief, the CDBG grant can be used for a business's operating expenses.
"You're not seeing that in a lot of other programs," he said, adding the application will be posted on the websites for the city and the organization.
Palamar acknowledged since last spring business owners have spent money to make sure their places were safe, including purchasing personal protective equipment and plexiglass dividers.
In addition, officials at PennDOT are expected to start work on a $2 million project on Route 61 from Mill Creek Avenue to the Mount Carbon arch. It includes traffic light improvements, resurfacing and adding a left turn signal on Route 61 at East Arch, East Norwegian and Mauch Chunk streets, as well as adding ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act at all intersections.
Palamar said the work is expected to start in a few months and will go on until August 2022. Kriger Construction has been awarded the contract for the project.
"They had their pre-construction conference a few weeks ago," he said.
In a separate item, Palamar said work to repair the portion of Progress Avenue in front of the former Giant grocery store is "75% complete" and on target to be done in May.
Fireworks, Soap Box Derby planned
Plans for events in the spring and summer got a boost when council members approved a resolution authorizing Mayor James T. Muldowney to execute an agreement with Ashland-based Bixler Pyrotechnics for fireworks to be shot off in the city, and a special events application for the Soap Box Derby, which is planned for May 15.
Palamar said before the meeting the fireworks are being planned in conjunction with D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.'s "Stars and Stripes Summer Celebration," planned for July 10. They will still be fired even if the event doesn't go on as planned.
"They will go off as late Fourth of July fireworks," he said.
Council also passed a resolution authorizing Palamar to submit a grant to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the planned Discovery Park at the corner of North Third and West Market streets. City officials are hoping to develop the 60-foot by 80-foot land plot into an area with a sundial, amphitheater, solar panels, wind turbine, water fountain sculpture and a mural of city firefighters.
Parking problems
Also during the meeting, North Fourth Street resident Krissy Hennick asked council members that there be no parking on the street between West Race Street and Laurel Boulevard, saying it is a potential public safety hazard. She said she found with it being 14 feet wide, there isn't enough room for a car to drive through if one is already parked there.
"It's very hard to get through," Hennick said. "I worry that with cars parked on the street, a firetruck would not be able to get down if there was a fire."
She said more and more cars have started to park on the street in the two years since she moved there and it has caused problems for both the garbage truck and snowplows. In addition, Hennick said her neighbors' curbs "are destroyed" from cars "plowing into them" trying to get around the parked vehicles.
Muldowney said the police department would look at the problem and conduct a traffic survey of the street.
Contact the writer: clee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6028; @Cleespot on Twitter
