Lock Haven to receive $950-thousand in American Recovery Act money

By John Lipez

LOCK HAVEN, PA – City Manager Greg Wilson told city council at its Monday night meeting a budget will be developed to utilize better than $950-thousand in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The exact amount is $950,710.46, part of a $6.15 billion allocation to the state of Pennsylvania. According to a letter to the city from Gov. Tom Wolf, there are a number of permissible uses for the dollars, approved by the federal government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include public health expenditures, replacement of lost public sector revenue, providing premium pay for essential workers and investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

The city manager told council a budget will be presented to council during its July 12 meeting. He called the unanticipated money “a great opportunity for the city.” Wilson said a public hearing on plans for the money will be held prior to the July 12 meeting.

Monday’s meeting was the first held in council chambers in a year and was also streamed. Those in attendance included council’s newest member, Alex Di Costanzo. Council recently selected him to replace Bill Mincer who had resigned. Di Costanzo was sworn in by Mayor Joel Long June 9 at City Hall.  He is a resident of Bellefonte Avenue and an official with Piper Logistics at the former Piper Aircraft manufacturing building.

Also Monday night it was announced that the taxiways at the Piper Memorial Airport are being refurbished in July with a $533,564 grant from the FAA and PennDOT. The city also took the first steps to officially adopt “First Quality Drive” as a city street. The street is the access road to First Quality in Castanea Township, off E. Walnut Street.