On Sept. 12, the Clarion County Commissioners threw their support behind a Clarion Borough project.
The commissioners unanimously adopted a letter to Mike Carroll, at PennDOT in Harrisburg, for Clarion Borough’s (Borough) application through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) Program for the Clarion Borough Safe Route to School and Recreation Project.
The commissioners stated in their letter that the borough, sing TASA funding, will undertake a “comprehensive reconstruction of non-motorized transportation infrastructure along Second Avenue, thereby increasing safety for students, pedestrians, and other users of non-motorized transportation options while also improving the aesthetics of the community.”
The commissioners stated the pedestrian infrastructure along Second Avenue poses an “immense safety hazard for students, pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals with mobility issues.”
Second Avenue is a direct route to the Clarion Area Junior/Senior High School and will also provide access to the highly anticipated Clarion Multi-Generational Park.
“These two destinations make safety along Second Avenue a paramount concern for the community,” stated the commissioners. “Enhanced pedestrian amenities are needed to improve Second Avenue’s safety, walkability, and accessibility.”
The commissioner said the project will address these issues through comprehensive improvements to non-motorized transportation infrastructure along 2nd Avenue and Main Street, including replacement of sidewalks, improvement of ramps and crosswalks to ADA compliance, enhancement of curb cuts, enhancement of lighting and signage, and addressing stormwater related issues.
“The Borough is proposing an impactful investment in the safety and walkability of its residential and downtown areas,” stated the commissioners. “As our county seat, the well-being of the Borough and its residents have a profound impact on the entirety of Clarion County. Therefore, we provide our utmost support for the Borough’s funding request though the TASA program.”
The commissioners signed an agreement with the Clarion Area Chamber of business and industry for use of the Veteran’s Park for the Autumn Leaf Festival. Commissioner Ted Tharan said there were certain stipulations. The vendors must put down plywood, the vendors cannot dump any grease in the park and any damage must be repaired. Vendors may set up on Friday and tear down on the following Sunday.
The commissioners awarded the bid of $641,000 for the roof at the Clarion County jail to Jamestown Roofing.
The commissioners also awarded the bid of $63,500 for tar and chipping the parking lot at the Clarion County Sorce building in Shippenville to IA Construction Corp.
In other business;
– The commissioners hired a new Human Resources Director, Sarah Schettler. She is a graduate of Union High School and PennWest University-Clarion. She currently resides in Shippenville.
– The commissioners appointed Dan Blose as the interim warden at the Clarion County Jail. Blose was the deputy warden under Warden Jeff Hornberger who resigned earlier this month.
The next meeting of the board of commissioners will be at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 26 at the Administration Building.