Westmoreland County commissioners on Tuesday rescinded a nearly $5,000 grant awarded last week to a Salem gym after it refused to accept a provision that requires recipients to pledge to adhere to state covid guidelines.

Officials said representatives of Matshark Fitness, which operates as Wallace Training Systems, declined to sign off on a contract required to accept the grant commissioners approved this month to help small businesses recoup losses and costs associated with pandemic.

Melissa Guiddy, county solicitor, said a signed contract is required before money is handed over. That contract requires entities that accept the money to “follow orders of the governor and state health department.”

Owner Alex Wallace said he rejected the county grant because he intended to keep his gym and nearby fitness training center open in defiance of the governor’s closure order this month as coronavirus cases surge.

“I do believe the virus is real, but at the same time: enough is enough,” Wallace said. “The contract required I shut down, and that is not what I was going to do.”

The governor’s order shut down gyms and restaurants for three weeks and is set to expire on Jan. 4.

Wallace said coronavirus precautions are taken at his businesses, including deep cleanings, temperature checks, air ionizers, smaller numbers of people in the facility and special wall paint. Masks are not required for clients or staff, but will be worn if requested, he said.

“We are taking as many precautions as we can,” Wallace said.

Hundreds of grants were issued over the last several months to small businesses, nonprofit agencies, municipalities, volunteer fire departments and emergency medical service units throughout the county.

Wallace Training Systems is the only grant recipient to refuse to sign the contract, officials said.

Meanwhile, commissioners said they will not rescind the $30,000 grant issued last month to North Huntingdon.

The prospect of reclaiming that money was raised last week during an online public forum, sponsored by grassroots activist group Voice of Westmoreland. During the forum, concerns were raised about declarations made by North Huntingdon officials; some claimed the township would defy state mandates that limit gatherings, including attendance at public government meetings during the pandemic.

“They did not violate any orders,” Commissioner Doug Chew said.

Township commissioners conducted a public meeting last week on the night of a snowstorm, but according to a Tribune-Review account of the session it was sparsely attended and no formal action was taken to ignore state guidelines.

“We only gave money and required they follow CDC guidelines,” said Commissioner Gina Cerilli. “If we give them money and they don’t follow the guidelines, the county has the ability to take the money back. But we don’t believe they didn’t follow the guidelines.”

Commissioner Sean Kertes said the county will only act to rescind a grant to another government entity if ordered to do so by state officials.

“We are a commonwealth and local government has the most authority and power,” Kertes said. “I can’t tell a municipality what to do.”

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