Dec 20, 2017 9 min read

Washington County commissioners today will consider forwarding to the state more than $6.7 million worth of projects from the Local Share Account of gambling proceeds from the tenth round of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino revenue.

The list includes $1,739,713 for 18 community improvement projects; $1,475,000 for four economic development projects; and 15 public interest projects totaling $3,417,376.

The single-largest project recommended for funding is $1 million for earthwork, water and sewer lines, plus road work into Starpointe Business Park in the Burgettstown area.

Jeff Kotula, chairman of the LSA board, said Wednesday local funding is contingent on Starpointe receiving $12 million from a Redevelopment Authority Capital Assistance grant.

Without the RCAP grant, the local share money will not be allocated.

Asked what the timetable might be on determining the status of the RCAP grant, Kotula said, “You’d have to ask Governor Wolf.”

With the development of the ethane cracker plant in Monaca, Beaver County, Starpointe in northwestern Washington County is poised to take advantage of related construction, such as a trucking terminal that has already been proposed.

Although Dan Reitz, executive director of Washington County Council on Economic Development, the force behind Starpointe, is a member of the LSA committee, Kotula said Reitz did not participate in the presentation, which was handled by WCCED board Chairman Richard White, or related discussions.

Due to an appellate court decision that originated in eastern Pennsylvania, the very existence of the local share program was up in the air. Even before a legislative fix could be worked out, representatives of Pinnacle Entertainment, owner of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, last summer voiced their support to continue the flow of revenue to North Strabane Township, the host community, and Washington County.

“It is nice to see all the innovative ideas our local municipalities and non-profits are coming up with to further the quality of life and economic development opportunities,” Kotula told the commissioners.

Among the projects recommended for funding were the construction of a new Washington Area Humane Society facility, $300,000, and Washington’s code enforcement and demolition project, $200,000.

Kelly Proudfit, executive director of the humane society in Eighty Four, learned of the recommendation by reading about it on the O-R’s website. “We’re so happy,” she said. “The project is in final design phase.” The earliest it would probably commence would be “late summer, early fall would be a goal,” she continued.

Across the county at Heritage Public Library in McDonald, a request for $8,124 is closer to being fulfilled. The committee recommended funding a lower counter that would be accessible to those in wheelchairs and children, and the reaction to the news was, “Oh, awesome, awesome! That is great!” When a counter of appropriate height is installed, staffers will be able to see all of their library patrons.

“I’m happy to hear the LSA is recommending us for funding,” continued Mary Duranti, library director. “We want our library to be more inclusive and welcoming to everybody.”

Various entities provided matching funds, including a foundation in Pittsburgh, natural gas drillers, and even a Facebook fundraiser by former Observer-Reporter staff writer, now New York City resident, Paul Snatchko, who contributed $900 “because the library had such an impact on his childhood,” Duranti said.

At Citizens Library, Washington, the reaction to funding a county library system electronic network was almost identical.

“Oh awesome, it wasn’t our total amount, but I’m happy,” said Diane Ambrose, system administrator and executive director of Citizens Library. “We’re very excited.”

Ambrose explained that under the recent proposal, the system will be managed professionally by an automation vendor. Rather than having staff perform the tasks on-site, the information will be Cloud-based. The library system expects it will no longer be constantly replacing servers.

The lone job-training project submitted for consideration was the Trinity Area School District’s endeavor with Intermediate Unit I, a solar- and wind-powered energy farm growing food for food bank recipients. The request for $85,000 is to be paired with $87,000 from another source.

County Commissioner Harlan Shober, a former Chartiers Township supervisor, said in a news release, “I understand how difficult it can be to identify resources to complete local projects. In some instances, projects can go for years until matching resources are allocated. We are fortunate in Washington County that the LSA program is the tool that has allowed us to decrease the time it takes to complete projects by increasing the ability to attract matching funds.”

Matching money, grants, and contributions from municipal coffers make up $29 million of what is known as “leverage,” amplifying the $6.7 million in the local share of gambling revenues to nearly $37 million.

Once the county commissioners vote on the proposed list of projects at their 10 a.m. meeting today, the list will be forwarded to the state Department of Economic and Community Development for final approval, which is expected in summer 2018.

Slot-machine gambling opened at The Meadows in June 2007, enabling the first round of local share allocations to be made in 2008.

The 2018 Local Share Account Recommendations are:

Community Improvement:

• Total Recommended Funding: $1,739,713
• Total Leverage: $4,334,084
• Total Impact: $6,073,797
• Bentleyville Senior Center kitchen renovation, Aging Services of Washington County, leverage: $4,000; recommended funding: $60,000.
• Bentworth Community Center accessibility and Site improvements, excluding paving, Bentleyville Public Library, leverage: $26,040; recommended funding: $100,000.
• Exterior Renovation, Washington-Greene County Blind Association, leverage: $10,000; recommended funding: $25,000.
• Canonsburg Senior Center electrical upgrades, leverage: $15,000; recommended funding: $44,000.
• Crossroads public parking garage LED lighting, City of Washington Parking Authority, leverage: $5,375; recommended funding: $5,200.
• Fredericktown Front Street Gateway phase 1 project, ADA improvements only, East Bethlehem Township, leverage: $24,200; recommended funding: $24,200.
• Heritage Public Library, ADA accessibility project, McDonald, leverage: $8,124; recommended funding: $8,124.
• Monongahela accessible boat launch, leverage: $22,600; recommended funding: $62,500.
• Transitional Paths to Independent Living new headquarters and community center, flooring only, leverage: $58,580; recommended funding: $160,000.
• Tutor library development, Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania, leverage: $13,000; recommended funding: $10,000.
• Walnut Street extension, Dunlevy Borough, leverage: $410,000; recommended funding: $246,405.
• Washington Area Humane Society building project, leverage: $3,500,000; recommended funding: $300,000.
• Washington Business District Authority façade improvement project, leverage: $15,000; recommended funding: $30,000.
• Washington (city) Code Enforcement Demolition Project, leverage: $50,000; recommended funding: $200,000.
• Washington County Library System electronic network, van purchase excluded from award, leverage: $30,000; recommended funding: $65,000.
• Washington County research and education center, Washington County Historical Society, leverage: $20,000; recommended funding: $134,059.
• Washington Park Main Pavilion restoration phase II, Rotary International, leverage: $102,000; recommended funding: $200,000.
• West Brownsville Water Boulevard playground, leverage: $20,165; recommended funding: $65,225.

Economic Development:

• Total Recommended Funding: $1,475,000
• Total Leverage: $13,127,517
• Total Impact: $14,602,517
• Former Canon Mac Metals bridge and access road, contingent upon project going through, Houston, leverage: $548,700; recommended funding: $200,000.
• Mid-Mon Valley economic and revitalization strategy, Mon Valley Alliance, leverage: $75,000; recommended funding: $75,000.
• Starpointe Business Park earthwork and infrastructure, contingent upon receipt of state RCAP grant; Washington County Council on Economic Development, leverage, $12,303,817; recommended funding: $1,000,000.
• Marketing initiative, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, leverage: $200,000; recommended funding: $200,000.

Job Training:

• Total Recommended Funding: $85,000
• Total Leverage: $87,000
• Total Impact: $172,000
• Trinity Area School District-Intermediate Unit I solar and wind energy farm, leverage: $87,000; recommended funding: $85,000.

Public Interest:

• Total Recommended Funding: $3,417,376
• Total Leverage: $12,433,424
• Total Impact: $15,850,800
• Pipe repair, Peters Creek Sanitary Authority, leverage: $182,000; recommended funding: $182,000.
• Country Club pump station rehabilitation, Carroll Township Authority, leverage: $150,500; recommended funding: $300,000.
• Combined sewer overflow control, phase 2, Authority of the Borough of Charleroi, leverage: $10,100,000; recommended Funding: $350,000.
• Donora pump station screenings improvements, Mon Valley Sewage Authority, leverage: $357,750; recommended funding: $285,250.
• Aeration blowers, East Bethlehem Municipal Authority, leverage: $15,000; recommended funding: $79,000.
• Ultra-violet disinfection, East Bethlehem Municipal Authority, leverage: $15,000; recommended funding: $153,000.
• Overlook sewage and sanitary Sewer extension, Union Township, leverage: $40,000; recommended funding: $250,000.
• Pump station, Centerville Borough Sanitary Authority, leverage: $25,000; recommended funding: $275,000.
• Centerville Clinics Inc., radiology equipment replacement and enhancement, leverage: $36,709; recommended funding: $110,126.
• Charleroi infrastructure improvements mapping, leverage: $10,000; recommended funding: $75,000.
• Home Ownership of Washington County, the Blueprints organization formerly known as Washington-Greene County Community Action Southwest, leverage: $130,000; recommended funding: $75,000.
• Reimaging Washington home rehabilitation, City of Washington Community Development Corp., leverage: $173,500; recommended funding: $200,000.
• Three-dimensional digital mammography, Mon Valley Hospital and Washington Health System, leverage: $435,223; recommended Funding: $500,000.
• Washington County Home Rehabilitation, Access and Homebuyer programs; redevelopment authority; leverage: $501,450; recommended funding: $501,450.
• Washington Regional SWAT protective vests, leverage: $261,292; recommended funding: $81,550.
• 2018 Total Recommended Funding: $6,717,089
• Total Leverage: $29,982,025
• Total Impact: $36,699,114