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Jersey Shore seeks $250K from Lycoming County for Lawshee Run project

Jersey Shore Borough is looking at a $4 million culvert renovation project to mitigate potential catastrophic failure due to Lawshee Run flowing beneath the borough. To aid in that endeavor, Borough Manager Joseph Hamm and Mike Zellers, borough council president, asked the Lycoming County commissioners for the county’s help Thursday.

“It is the biggest liability facing Jersey Shore Borough,” Hamm said.

Hamm, Zellers and Kurt Hausammann, director of county planning, explained the borough’s current plan of attack.

Engineering firm Larson Design Group already has performed a feasibility study and the borough and county have worked together to seek out funding opportunities.

One such opportunity comes in the form of a $3 million Federal Emergency Management Agency pre-disaster grant program, for which an application will be submitted later this year. Another is a $500,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant program, for which the application is due next month.

All that remains is a $500,000 local share, Hausammann said.

Jersey Shore Borough will put up $250,000 — nearly depleting its impact fee funds in the process, Hamm said, and is requesting that the county puts up the remaining $250,000.

“If we can do a $4 million project for $500,000 local match, that’s a pretty good return on the investment,” Hausammann said. “Especially on a project that is so much in need as what this one is.”

The commissioners were asked to appoint planning department staff members Josh Schnitzlein and Mark Murawski as project managers on this matter, giving them authority to handle all paperwork in relation to these grants, and adopt a resolution to commit $250,000 from the county toward the project at its meeting Tuesday.

Hausammann added that the project is eligible for county impact fee funds.

“Anytime we get significant water — even if it’s not a flooding event, that culvert is deteriorating more and more,” Hamm said.

Commissioner Rick Mirabito praised the borough for setting “a good example for other municipalities in the county” by stepping up to have the feasibility study done and put forth the majority of its impact fee monies toward the project.

“We’ve helped Jersey Shore in limited capacities … and this is a great project that we can help you out with just a little bit more,” added Commissioner Tony Mussare.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved the purchase of two new 2018 Modine heaters and parts for $13,891 from APR Supply Company.

• Approved VMware licensing and support for $60,465 from Arraya Solutions.

• Awarded a $1,500 grant to the Lycoming County Fire Police Association for training and education for local fire police from impact fee funds as part of the outside agency requests budget.

• Awarded a $3,000 grant to the Lycoming Police Camp Cadet Foundation Inc. for the camp cadet program as part of the outside agency requests budget.

• Awarded a $10,000 grant to the Lycoming County Senior Citizens for social events and activities for local seniors as part of the outside agency requests budget.

• Approved the promotions of Brad A. Shoemaker to full-time replacement warden at $86,970.79 annually and Timothy E. Stutzman to full-time replacement sergeant at $25.75 per hour, both effective April 22.

In addition to Mirabito and Mussare, Commissioner Jack McKernan also was present. The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Executive Plaza. Action items will be addressed then as there will not be a meeting on Thursday, the commissioners said.

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