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Finance committee gives nod for final grant tie ups on Bowman Field

Bowman Field is closer to getting a digital scoreboard put in for next year’s baseball games following action taken Tuesday by the City Council finance committee.

The committee gave a positive recommendation to an application to the Office of Budget for a $600,000 state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Projects grant, submitted by the city finance department and Delta Development Group.

The submission would be for Bowman Field stadium renovation in the second phase and is a formality, according to Joseph Pawlak, city interim finance director.

“It is necessary to comply with the state procedure for submitting a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Projects grant application,” Pawlak said.

Already completed are the visitor’s club house, umpires’ club house and expansion of the press or media box, Pawlak said.

What is left is the scoreboard or videoboard, he said. The resolution allows the city to submit the application and to complete the funding package, he said.

The city would only need to wait to hear back from the Office of Budget if it is accepted or what special conditions may be required for the scoreboard project, Pawlak said.

The city previously received notice of the award and now it will fill out the application to receive the award, Pawlak said.

Councilwoman Liz Miele asked Pawlak if there was any reason the funding amount would change because of COVID-19 pandemic factors.

“No,” he said. “It is a one-to-one match and requires $600,000 in additional projects.”

Councilwoman Bonnie Katz said information she received indicated the construction bids for the scoreboard go out in a month or two.

The plan is to award the contract in the fall and see completion of the scoreboard in spring.

Mayor Derek Slaughter said the grant must specifically be used for the scoreboard.

He said state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, “went to bat for us for the scoreboard.”

Gov. Tom Wolf and Yaw both said they viewed the scoreboard as an important factor in the awarding of the grant, Katz said.

Miele and Katz passed the resolution onto the full body of council with a positive recommendation.

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