Railroad crossing in Mount Carmel to be closed for construction

A portion of Route 54 (Locust Gap Highway) in Mount Carmel Township will be closed to traffic for railroad crossing work from July 15 to 22.

The existing crossing is deteriorated, and the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) and its private operator, Shamokin Valley Railroad, will replace it with a new concrete grade crossing.

Motorists can expect Route 54 to be closed between the intersection of Brennan’s Farm Road and Locust Gap Highway and the intersection of Route 54 with Route 901 in Mount Carmel Township.

Motorists will be directed to a detour using Routes 901 and 61. Motorists are urged to slow down, be alert, and expect delays in travel.

Jannotti Rail Consulting Inc. of Russell is the track engineer and K.W. REESE of Mercersburg is the contractor. The SEDA-COG JRA owns the track and Shamokin Valley Railroad is the operator.

The SEDA-COG JRA was formed in 1983 by the forward-looking efforts of its eight member counties to save rail lines and service abandoned by Conrail. The JRA’s public-private partnership was recognized by the World Bank as a model for public-private partnerships to stimulate rural economic development. Since 2004, the JRA has invested or leveraged over $46 million in rail capital projects with over 40 public and private partners. For more information, visit www.sedacograil.org.

Action Plan Promotes Shamokin Rebirth

Shamokin now has an action plan to help achieve the community’s vision of substantial rebirth.

Through a series of meetings and partnerships, and an effort that began nearly two years ago, the Shamokin Community Rebuilding Action Plan was drafted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An interfaith and multi-stakeholder collaborative partnership formed to create the Faith Alliance for Revitalization (FAR), which helped the city and community establish a set of goals and implementation of activities in the plan. In addition to identifying goals, the plan also has a comprehensive list of resource providers.

As part of SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) ongoing revitalization efforts in the Shamokin Area, SEDA-COG Revitalization Coordinator Betsy Kramer also gave input and helped coordinate efforts between this action plan and another Shamokin revitalization plan SEDA-COG is spearheading, due to be released this summer. SEDA-COG also was identified as a resource provider.

Shamokin Mayor John Brown said the effort to transform the city accelerated in a short time.

“I started as mayor 2.5 years ago with a city in distress. I am amazed at how within months, it went from nothing to overwhelming. State Rep. Kurt Masser stepped forward and helped to bring funding to SEDA-COG to coordinate the effort to revitalize the city. Thanks to that effort, strategic plans are being developed so all the players have a common path to a successful city,” Brown said.

Friar Mike Lasky and Father Martin Kobos helped to form FAR and coordinated the faith community’s efforts with the support and participation of the local Ministerium members. Friar Rich Rome is the director of FAR.

“It has been inspiring to see the citizens, faith communities, businesses, and government agencies come together in support of this revitalization plan. Even though COVID-19 interrupted implementation, the working groups continued to meet and now, as restrictions are lifting, the pace to implement the action plan is increasing. The enthusiasm for the revitalization effort, especially at EPA and SEDA-COG, never flagged. It is a wonderful partnership that continues to strive for a better tomorrow for Shamokin,” Rome said.

“We Franciscan Friars are inspired by all who have come together to begin a new dialogue, shaping the future by overcoming indifference and seeking concrete solutions to the difficulties that confront us today. FAR is not a place but a network of relationships that help us to inspire one another, while coordinating our working toward the common good,” Lasky said.

“The Franciscans who minister in Shamokin/Coal Township and Trevorton are so pleased to see efforts of FAR bearing such positive results in our local communities. Seeing the cooperation between the area’s Ministerium, civic, business and government agencies is most gratifying. The friars look forward to sustaining that positive momentum into the future in partnership with our local brothers and sisters,” Kobos said, pastor of Mother Cabrini Parish, Shamokin.

As a partner in the effort, SEDA-COG helps fill the gaps where coordination was needed, Kramer said.

“Shamokin is ripe for revitalization and there are tremendous efforts coming from multiple fronts; we are pleased that our coordination helped to bring this to a congruous result with the plans,” Kramer said.

The plan was built on discussions at the Shamokin Community Rebuilding Workshop on Feb. 11-13, where 165 people participated.

The plan’s goals are as follows:

  • · Attract and support the development of new businesses, and support job creation activities/programs and current businesses;
  • · Bring citizens together to work toward a common goal of increasing pride and ownership in our community;
  • · Foster and nurture productive partnerships;
  • · Redevelop/demolish/rehabilitate/cleanup blighted commercial and residential properties throughout the city;
  • · Enhance positive relationship building, inclusive communities, fostering human dignity and respect;
  • · Make Shamokin healthy, green, and clean now and tomorrow. The plan can be found at: https://www.franciscancenterpa.org/.

All residents are invited to attend the monthly meetings of FAR. To become involved with the volunteer efforts in the Shamokin Area, please contact: Friar Rich of FAR at rmrome07@gmail.com, Kathy Vetovich of SABER at kvetovich@gmail.com, or Betsy Kramer of SEDA-COG at bkramer@seda-cog.org.

As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.

Funds available for limited time for heating unit repairs. Residents can get no-cost repairs through SEDA-COG

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is reminding residents that CARES funds to repair or replace their home heating units are available through Aug. 31 or until funds are spent.

This service is available to income-qualifying residents in Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mandy Fox, chief of SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program, said there are still funds left and urged residents to apply.

“Many people are facing financial hardships right now, and we want to let people know these funds are still available. Because it’s summer, many people aren’t thinking about repairing or replacing their heating units, but it’s the perfect time to do repairs since the funds are available and it’s warm out,” Fox said.

For those whose heat source is malfunctioning, they should call their county assistance office. The county assistance office will forward the completed referral to SEDA-COG to assign to a subcontractor.

SEDA-COG and its subcontractors will follow Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and use the proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) during home visits. SEDA-COG asks those who have been sick, have symptoms or have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 that they reschedule their appointments.

COUNTY ASSISTANCE OFFICES

Columbia: 570-387-4200
Juniata: 717-436-2158
Mifflin: 717-248-6746
Montour: 570-275-7430
Perry: 1-800-991-1929
Snyder: 570-374-8126
Union: 570-524-2201

For more information on the recovery program, call SEDA-COG’s Christine Bohart at 570-522-7219 or visit https://bit.ly/2WV26pJ.

UNION COUNTY CDBG-CARES (CDBG-CV) COMPETITIVE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

It is the intent of the Union County Commissioners to apply for Community Development Block Grant- CARES (CDBG-CV) Competitive funds through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) on behalf of Lewisburg Borough for Lewisburg hand washing/sanitizing restroom project. The amount of funding applied for will be $300,000. A public hearing will be held on Monday, July 6, 2020, 2:00 PM. Keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID 19, this hearing will take place as a virtual video web and tele conference. The public is invited to observe and participate in the hearing as follows: To access via web video, type the link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/8383951780. To access via telephone dial +1(470)8692200 and enter Meeting ID: 838 395 1780. The hearing will be recorded. The hearing platform is accessible to persons with disabilities. If accommodations are needed for those with special needs related to language, sight, or hearing, please call (570)524-4491 at least five days in advance.

This public hearing is being held to allow citizens an opportunity to become educated on the project, as well as provide a forum for citizen feedback and discussion. Public testimonials and support are critical for this project to be considered for CDBG Competitive grant funding.

The public hearing will be facilitated by staff from the SEDA-Council of Governments. Items of discussion include:

  • • Project Description
  • • CDBG Competitive Program Requirements
  • • CDBG Competitive Application Schedule
  • • Anticipated Budget and Construction Schedule
  • • Special Conditions of the CDBG Competitive Grant

To learn more about the Lewisburg hand washing/sanitizing restroom project and, and the CDBG-CV program, you are encouraged to attend this public hearing.

Technical assistance will be provided upon request to any groups or persons, especially LMI persons or their representatives, when developing proposals intending to use CDBG-CV funds. The Union County Commissioners will strive to make all programs and activities accessible to the learning, mobility, vision, hearing, and language-impaired persons. If you have a disability or limited English proficiency and require an auxiliary aid or accommodations, please contact Kristen Lloyd at SEDA-COG, 1-800-332-6701, 1-800-654-5984 TTY, 1-800-654-5988 TDD to discuss your needs. Translators will be available upon request.

Any complaints should be written and submitted to Mitzi Gallagher-Long at SEDA-COG. Written responses will be addressed within 15 working days when practicable.

Übersetzer sind für die öffentliche Sitzung auf Anfrage erhältlich
Traductores estarán disponibles en las reunions públicas por petición