×

Logan may use funds for sewer

The Logan Township planning director on Thursday recommended that supervisors use most of this year’s Community Development Block Grant money for a sewer line extension in Eldorado.

The extension would serve 11 homes on 35th and 36th streets, in an area where there are septic system problems, according to Cassandra Schmick.

The township could use $110,000 of this year’s CDBG allocation of $148,000 for the approximately $210,000 project, Schmick said.

The township could get the rest of the money by transferring 2016 CDBG money that was originally slated for accessibility work, then for housing rehabilitation, Schmick said.

That switch can be made in November, when the supervisors can approve the CDBG plan, Schmick told supervisors.

The 35th Street-36th Street area qualifies for the funding because it’s more than 50 percent low to moderate income, Schmick said.

The line will tap into an existing sewer line on Walnut Avenue and travel up a ravine that runs between the streets, Schmick said.

The line would serve township residents and become part of the township’s sewer system but would discharge its effluent into the Altoona Water Authority’s system, which would carry it to the authority’s Westerly Sewer Treatment Plant, Schmick indicated. Schmick and Sewer Department Director Dave Pozgar considered recommending a line to serve a group of homes on 39th Street but backed off because the Altoona Water Authority is considering a project to serve homes in that area.

Schmick proposed using an additional $10,000 of this year’s CDBG funding to help the people on 35th and 36th streets pay for the lateral pipes they will need to

connect to the new sewer line.

She also proposed spending $10,000 on demolition of blighted buildings and $18,600 on administration of the CDBG money.

Supervisors’ Chairman Jim Patterson suggested using money from next year’s CDBG allocation to do rehabilitation work in Dogtown, near the Cambria County line, off the Coupon-Gallitzin Road.

It’s not a well-known area of the township and is only accessible by roads in Cambria County, according to Patterson.

Officials at the meeting didn’t know how many people still lived there.

The area got its name years ago because the houses were so small they reminded people of dog houses, Patterson said.

They backed up against now-spent coal mining areas that abut or are part of the Altoona Water Authority watershed.

They mostly housed mine workers, Patterson said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today