Featured – Page 21 – SEDA Council of Governments

Lewisburg Homeowners: How will you prepare for the next flood?

Posted on July 24, 2020 by DNS Admin

The time is now to prepare your flood-prone property by reducing risk and damages before the next flood. Investments in flood mitigation could lead to reduced flood insurance costs as well.

Lewisburg homeowners who live in the 100-year floodplain (Zone AE) are encouraged to secure an elevation certificate either through the SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Flood Resiliency Program or a local engineering firm to help homeowners understand their risk.

SEDA-COG has negotiated a group rate through Orangeville Surveying Consulting Inc to complete elevation certificates that meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards. Interested homeowners can contact Geralee Zeigler at gzeigler@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491 ext. 7218.

An Elevation Certificate is a valuable document. It records important features of the property, including its unique location within the floodplain and elevation of a building’s lowest floor. This certificate is used by insurance agents to determine flood insurance premiums and it is used by the Borough’s Codes Office to ensure that all new construction is located above the base flood elevation, thereby decreasing the amount of flood damage in the future. Elevation Certificates provide property owners the information necessary to help determine flood risk factors as well as options for insuring and mitigating the risk.

“Homeowners have many options for flood mitigation such as installing flood vents, raising their utilities above base flood elevation, elevating the home, and a variety of wet and dry floodproofing tactics. These mitigation measures help reduce the risk and damage of flooding if done in compliance with the floodplain ordinance standards and the information provided on an elevation certificate will help determine which measures are most appropriate for each unique situation,” said Kim Wheeler, Lewisburg Borough’s Special Project’s Coordinator.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/.

Railroad crossings in Bloomsburg to be closed for construction

Posted on July 24, 2020 by DNS Admin

BLOOMSBURG – A portion of Market and East streets will be closed to traffic for railroad crossing work in August.

The existing grade crossings are deteriorated, and the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) and its private operator, North Shore Railroad, will replace them with new concrete grade crossings.

Market Street between Sixth and Seventh streets will close the morning of Aug. 8 and will reopen Aug. 12.

East Street/State Route 487 adjacent to State Route 11 will close the morning of Aug. 22 and will reopen Aug. 26.

Marked detours will be in place. Motorists are urged to slow down, be alert, and expect delays in travel.

Jannotti Rail Consulting Inc. of Russell is the track engineer and Chesapeake Thermite Welding of Virginia is the contractor. The SEDA-COG JRA owns the track and North Shore 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.

Final Notice: Union County CDBG Application

Posted on July 24, 2020 by DNS Admin

RUN DATE: July 23, 2020
CONTACT: Mitzi Gallagher-Long, (570) 524-4491

FINAL NOTICE

On or about October 28, 2020, Union County plans to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for FFY 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $466,962. Based on this amount, the County ($248,078), along with Lewisburg Borough ($111,028), and Kelly Township ($107,856), propose to allocate CDBG funds to the following activities:

UNION COUNTY

Buffalo Township Southern Sewer System Rehab $ 181,200
UCHA Housing Rehabilitation $ 24,778
ADMINISTRATION $42,100

TOTAL $248,078

LEWISBURG BOROUGH

Emergency Notification System $92,428
ADMINISTRATION $ 18,600

TOTAL $111,028

KELLY TOWNSHIP

Kelly Apartments Sidewalk $89,756
ADMINISTRATION $18,100

TOTAL $107,856

In addition, Union County on behalf of Kelly Township, intends to submit a budget for its FFY 2016 and FFY 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) on or before August 15, 2020. The budget is as follows:

FFY 2016
ACTIVITY: Township Park Restrooms
Current Budget: $78,044; $(78,044); $0.00

ACTIVITY: UCHA Kelly Twp
Current Budget: $0.00; $78,044 ; $78,044

FFY 2017
ACTIVITY: Township Park Restrooms
Current Budget: $77,146; $(77,146); $0.00

ACTIVITY: UCHA Kelly Twp
Current Budget: $0.00; $77,146 ; $77,146

A Public Hearing to receive comments on the proposed use of the CDBG funds for FFY 2020 and the proposed Budget Modifications for FFY 2016 and FFY 2017 will be held on August 4, at 10:30 AM. Keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID 19, this meeting 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)869-2200 and enter Meeting ID: 838 395 1780. The meeting will be recorded. The meeting 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. Interested applicants should contact the Union County Commissioners as soon as possible for funding consideration, but in no case later than August 4, 2020. Following the Public Hearing, the Union County Commissioners will consider the approval of the Budget Modifications for FFY 2016 and FFY 2017 at the August 4, 2020 Commissioners Meeting at 2:00 PM. The Union County Commissioners will consider the approval of the CDBG FFY 2020 application at the September 1, 2020 Commissioners Meeting at 2:00 PM.

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.

Lewisburg to renew certificate for flood insurance discounts

Posted on July 20, 2020 by DNS Admin

Lewisburg Borough is preparing to renew a certification through the Community Rating System (CRS) that gives its residents a flood insurance discount.

The Borough is currently a Class 8 community through the CRS which provides a 10% premium discount for all properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), and a 5% discount for all other properties. If your area is not mapped as an SFHA, you may qualify for a lower-cost Preferred Risk Policy.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is assisting Lewisburg with its CRS recertification process.

“The Borough of Lewisburg annually attempts to remind its residents that flooding can be a problem through mailings and various media outlets. It is our hope that in providing good information to the residents, they will be equipped to make informed decisions regarding flood insurance and mitigation actions,” said Geralee Zeigler, SEDA-COG Flood Resiliency program analyst.

Flood information is available in the Lewisburg Borough Office and the Public Library for Union County. Library hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturdays (closed Sundays.) Vulnerable population hours are 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.

For more information, contact Borough Manager William Lowthert at 570-523-3614.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/.