Cranberry Township supervisors voted Thursday to use township funds to demolish a house at the bottom of the Seneca Hill.
That decision came after township manager Chad Findlay expressed frustration that Venango County officials had delayed the release of Community Development Block Grant funds to pay for the project.
Findlay said the county, which administers the township’s CDBG grant monies, had approved all the steps necessary to bid out the project. A contractor was hired to do the work.
Last week, though, the county advised Findlay the work would have to go out to public bid.
“That’s frustrating,” said Findlay, noting he had supplied all the necessary information to the county for the work and been told the grant monies would be forwarded to the township. “The process is not fair.”
The supervisors agreed with Findlay’s recommendation to use township funds to demolish the house. The work will be done by Gahr Excavating that submitted a bid of $8,400.
Findlay said the state decided six years ago “to put the CDBG money into the hands of the county” rather than allow the township to accept the money and prepare projects that fall under the program guidelines.
That shift also meant the county would receive the CDBG-directed grant administration fees.
“Well, they’re making out with our administrative fees,” said Harold Best, chairman of the supervisors.
Findlay said the township has sufficient funds earmarked for blight eradication and housing rehabilitation projects. Difficulties in obtaining the CDBG funds administered by the county “means we’re sitting on rehab funds and people need it.”
In other matters Thursday, Findlay told the supervisors the township had received a “thank you” from the U.S. Census Bureau for exemplary “participation and engagement.”
“We put forth an effort and updated all our maps for the census,” said Findlay. “They recognized that effort and that was nice.”
Findlay told the supervisors the Morrison Trust had deeded over four acres of land to the township. The property is near the township’s Morrison Park.
Findlay said the township is advertising to fill a mechanic’s job. Resumes will be accepted at the township office until the end of February.
