City council sets public work session as it decides how to spend $950,000 in federal assistance

LOCK HAVEN, PA – City council has set Monday, Aug. 23 for a special public work session to discuss use of the $950,000 the city has received in federal American Rescue Plan dollars.

Council at its Monday night meeting received from City Manager Greg Wilson a listing of five projects culled from responses from council members and the city’s leadership team after a list of prospective projects had been unveiled last month.

The list as unveiled Monday, Wilson said, will require further investigation and more solid estimates to complete.

They currently carry an estimated price tag of $945,000.

They are (with price estimates):
1. Grants to small businesses to update strategic plans – $100,000
2. Installation of remote-read water meters in Castanea and Wayne Townships – $350,000
3. Triangle Park refurbishment – $320,000
4. Down payment and closing costs to home buyers – $100,000
5. City beach restroom upgrade – $75,000

The city manager told council the next highest ranked item on a list of 15 to be considered was installation of solar panels at the city’s wastewater treatment plan, followed by multi-modal street furniture to promote walking and biking.

Wilson told council, “We made no decisions.” Mayor Joel Long said, “We’ll try to make the best decision we can.”
The list presented to council last month carried an estimated price tag of better than $1.6 million.