Export officials look toward summer paving, construction projects

Export officials will use part of their allocation of federal pandemic funding to upgrade the borough’s winter salt storage.

“We’ve been talking about doing it for years,” said solicitor Wes Long.

The borough has just under $45,000 in American Rescue Plan funding, the first half of a proposed two-part federal grant. New government facilities are among the permitted uses for the money.

For council President Barry Delissio, additional salt storage would be a big help after a very mild winter.

“Under our contract, we have to take three more truckloads of salt,” Delissio said. “Murrysville can’t help us, because they’re looking for places to put their salt.”

Initially, borough officials were waiting for the second half of the American Rescue Plan funds to look at larger projects.

“I’ve reached out to Sen. Fetterman to ask about when the second half is coming, and I haven’t gotten a response,” Mayor Joe Zaccagnini said. “We were waiting for the whole boat, but I think now is a good time to commit some of it to this.”

Delissio said borough staff would look for a suitable site. Public works head Stephen Opsitnick said he’d prefer the upgrades at the borough’s existing storage area.

“What would be great is if the opening could face more toward Dura-Bond,” Opsitnick said. “Right now it’s a pain for the trucks to get in and out.”

Other summer projects

• The borough will move ahead in partnering with Murrysville in securing bids for road projects, in order to pave portions of Roosevelt Avenue, Puckety and Polk streets. The cost is roughly $47,000, most of which will be paid with money from the state’s liquid fuel tax.

• Council also opened bids for Community Development Block Grant paving work, funded with federal dollars. This year’s targeted projects are paving on Harrison and Madison avenues. Three bids ranged from $131,765 to the apparent low bidder, Tresco Paving, at $93,145.

Delissio said a new sewer line will be installed along Harrison prior to the start of paving. Council will consider awarding the bid at its next meeting, which will take place July 11 because of the July 4 holiday.

• One potential project will have to wait — the borough was denied a grant to help stabilize and excavate the former Westmoreland Coal Company’s No. 2 mine entrance, behind the district judge office on Washington Avenue.

Borough officials were hoping a pool of state grant funding aimed specifically at mine remediation projects would make them good candidates.

“We don’t know why we were denied,” Councilman John Nagoda said. “It was a good project, and it had support from our local legislators.”

The plan was to excavate the entrance and make it safe for visitors to come into the entrance to view historical artifacts and information about the town’s mining history. A local Rotary grant helped fund an informational sign a few years ago for the nearby fan house, which helped circulate fresh air for miners.

“The mine entrance was improperly abandoned, which is why it’s all filled with dirt,” Nagoda said. “I don’t understand why that money can’t be used here.”