Unity seeks grant to pave, extend lake walkway

Unity officials are seeking a competitive community development block grant to improve a walkway surrounding the lake adjacent to the township office building.

If approved through Westmoreland County, the $161,000 grant would be used to apply asphalt paving to the path that surrounds three sides of the lake, said township engineer Dan Schmitt.

“It gets washed out,” Schmitt said of the path’s surface. “Sometimes rutting occurs during heavy rains. Weeds are starting to come up through.”

The project also would extend the trail across the fourth side of the lake — so pedestrians don’t have to share the adjacent township drive with vehicles traveling to and from a nearby hillside, where a new public works garage is under construction.

“We’re going to construct a new walkway behind the guide rail so that the residents would not actually get on the same road that’s shared by the trucks,” said Schmitt.

He said the goal is to make the trail more user-friendly. Handicapped-accessible walkways would be added leading from the lake path to a picnic pavilion equipped with rest rooms and to the township building, where handicapped parking spaces would be available.

Schmitt said the township should know if the funding will be approved by next spring. The township would be responsible for a 15 percent match, which Schmitt said should cover engineering costs.

Many people walk the 1,800 feet around the lake for exercise, Schmitt said, while catch-and-release fishing is permitted in the lake. The pavilion is available for rental, and children’s play equipment is located nearby.

Summer recreation programs, conducted by the Greensburg YMCA under an agreement with the township, also are held near the lake.

The lake is on property the township acquired from Fred Ulishney.

Extra work OK’d for garage contractor

The supervisors also approved a change order for a public works garage contractor, agreeing to pay Mongiovi & Son Fire Protection Services an additional $23,569 on top of the $95,500 the firm is receiving for installing a mandated sprinkler system in the building.

Schmitt said the extra amount will pay for piping that had to be in place underneath the building before pouring the concrete floor and adding the sprinkler system. The extra cost will be covered under the township’s insurance policy through Cincinnati Insurance, he said.

The new garage will replace one that was destroyed in a 2017 arson and did not have a sprinkler system. Cincinnati Insurance has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Construction of the replacement building hit a snag in early April, when 42 wooden roof trusses collapsed. Schmitt said Thursday new trusses have been installed, and he said roof sheeting could be completed in the coming week.

He said contractors are working on a revised schedule for completing the building. Until it’s ready, township crews will continue to work out of rented space at two separate locations.

Trick-or-Treat Night slated

The supervisors announced Halloween trick-or-treating will take place 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Residents who want to distribute treats should turn on an outside light.