Rush Township seeks grants for several parks

Rush Township has committed its required contributions to grant money, and applications have been submitted. The township hopes to make improvements at several of its six parks; now the wait begins.

“Hopefully we will get them,” township engineer Bill McMullen, Arro Engineering, said during the township meeting Wednesday.

McMullen referred to grants the township seeks, which include $260,000 from DCNR and $196,477 from Commonwealth Financing Authority.

During the meeting, the supervisors executed a letter of commitment for the township’s contribution, $34,672, for the Commonwealth Financing Authority grant.

Supervisor Robert Leibensperger said that upgrades are needed at the 8-acre Grier City Park, which the Grier City Union Sunday School Association turned over to the township in 2015. The pavilion needs to be replaced as well as the two-seater outhouse building.

“We like to have summer lunch programs, and the outhouse has seen its day,” Leibensperger said.

The township hopes to add an ADA compliant bathroom facility, perform electrical upgrades, install new playsets and replace the pavilion. Planned projects at other parks include a disc golf course at Ryan Park and ADA bathrooms at Miller Park.

In other action the supervisors:

• Thanked Hometown Fire Department firefighter Ed Tite for his work as EMA coordinator for the township. County EMA head John Matz presented Tite with a plaque honoring his service.

• Approved a resolution which establishes the mode of service for informing owners if trees on their properties must be removed or trimmed, such as to clear the township’s right of way along roads. According to the resolution, the landowner will be informed via mail according to the address on file for the property in county records.

• Learned from solicitor Chris Reidlinger that the paperwork for the township’s inclusion in the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan should be completed and ready for vote next month. Townships and other entities which participate in the plan are eligible for federal disaster relief money.