Lock Haven city council to review project list for use of American Rescue Plan dollars
LOCK HAVEN, PA – When Lock Haven City Council holds its first July meeting Monday night, council will have a list of 14 prospective projects to ponder as it considers how to spend the $950,000 the city has received in federal American Rescue Plan funds.
The city administration has prepared a list of possible uses with a ballpark price tag of better than $1.6 million; it will be up to council to decide how to divvy up the federal dollars. Per the agenda for Monday’s meeting, better than $100,000 of the total amount will be used to cover the loss of business privilege and earned income tax receipts resulting from the COVID pandemic.
The biggest ticket item proposed for council consideration is $320,000 for refurbishment of Triangle Park, including installation of a new gazebo to act as a bandshell in the summer and Santa’s House in the holiday season. Other projects and their estimated costs include $210,000 for installation of solar/wind powered lights on the flood protection levee (with an estimated annual savings of $11,000); $200,000 for installation of solar panels at the wastewater treatment plant (a savings of about 5 percent of electric usage at the plant); $150,000 for outdoor bottle fill stations at city parks and in the central business district; $130,000 for installation of a raised concrete platform into the existing Corman Amphitheater to replace the floating stage.
Others up for consideration include $100,000 each in grants to small businesses to upgrade strategic plans; down payment and closing cost grants to owner-occupied home buyers; and multi-modal bike racks, benches and infrastructure investment to promote walking and biking in the central business district and areas leading to Lock Haven University.
