Walnutport withdraws grant application for vet memorial

Walnutport has withdrawn its application for a near $25,000 grant for its veterans memorial.

On a unanimous measure, borough council on Thursday agreed to take that action, with no further discussion on the matter.

After the meeting, Councilwoman Jennifer Wentz explained the rationale behind council’s decision.

“It was not going to be feasible to maintain the grant,” Wentz said. “We are looking at alternatives to finish the project.”

However, Wentz cautioned that council’s decision won’t affect the status of the memorial in the small park between Washington and Fifth streets.

“It will get done,” she said. “It’s important to us.”

In November, council announced that more work would be done on the memorial project, with the remainder to start back up in the spring.

Wentz said at that time borough engineer Jason Newhard would redesign the scope of the work so that the borough could close out the grant before the end of last year.

She said it would then look to start the remaining work back up again in the spring, when there will be new topsoil, dressing down the rest of it, and putting in the benches and flagpoles.

That came after borough officials in September were told to re-evaluate their budget for the veterans memorial project.

At that time, Sherry Acevedo, Northampton County Parks and Recreation Division conservation coordinator, told council she has some concerns regarding the grant.

Acevedo said that paperwork listing work that’s been completed on the memorial needs to be more detailed, so that the project is compliant.

She then suggested that council should ask Lindsay Taylor, executive director of the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, for assistance because of her background.

Taylor, who was also in attendance at that meeting, told council she was available to assist them in whatever manner she can.

Wentz noted at that time that the memorial work was being paid for through a combination of money from private and public donations, moneys from the Centennial Committee, as well as in-kind services, so that the borough’s 50% match would be totally covered.

It was stated at that time that the grant money would be satisfied by Dec. 1, as the project had to be completed by December.

In July, council agreed to spend an additional $2,700 for concrete work that includes an Americans with Disabilities Act ramp.

That came after council agreed in June to spend up to $2,500 for concrete work at the memorial.

Also in June, council received a pair of donations that totaled $3,000 toward the memorial; one a $2,000 check from the Diamond Fire Co., and $1,000 from the Diamond Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary.

Several members of the 2009 Centennial Committee attended a council meeting in April to discuss the use of about $11,000 that was set aside in the Centennial fund for improvements to the memorial.

Committee member Doneta Merkle told council at that time the wish of the Centennial Committee is for those funds to be used toward the memorial.

Michael Kukitz, who served as executive director of the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority until he resigned in March, obtained the grant for $23,983, funded by a grant through the Northampton County Livable Landscapes Program, Northampton County’s Open Space Initiative.

The work will include the removal of trees and putting in new decorative trees, flagpoles, benches, lighting and improved access to the memorial.