This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Jonestown Borough Council heard updates surrounding several grants.

Last year, the council received a $1,056,500 federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) grant for crosswalk improvements along Market Street.

As of May, the council was unsure whether they could successfully advertise the project by August, their initial deadline.

However, Township Engineer Lee Strause confirmed Tuesday that “the funding will not be an issue at this point,” though the council will need to submit an updated timeline to the TASA coordinators.

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Strause also discussed the playground improvement project at the George H. Kaufman Community Park, which is partially funded by a DCNR grant.

As of now, the council plans to re-bid the project in the fall, to be constructed in the spring, following an unsuccessful bid advertisement this summer.

Read More: Jonestown Borough postpones park improvement project until spring 2024

The borough is also in the running for a Community Development Block Grant for a curbing project.

Council President Thomas Keefer noted that to be considered for the grant, the council must obtain 33 updated income surveys, ideally by the workshop meeting on Aug. 28.

In other news, the board:

  • Heard from Mayor Joseph Quairoli about the purchase of barricades and signs for the SR 72 bridge closure project. As of now, Quairoli plans to borrow or rent barricades from another municipality and is still looking into prices for signage.
  • Heard that 54 names were submitted to the 49 St. Park naming contest, which closed on July 31. The council will review names and select the top five entries at its Aug. 28 workshop, after which the winning name will be drawn sometime in September.
  • Unanimously ratified an Orkin expense of $375 to treat the Jonestown Park concession stand for a bee infestation.
  • Announced that seven trees will start being planted at 49 W. Market St. the week of Aug. 28.
  • Unanimously agreed to purchase eight iPad covers from the ARPA fund at a cost not to exceed $250.
  • Presented certificates of appreciation to the school crossing guards and officially awarded them bonuses.
  • Unanimously approved their July 5 meeting minutes.
  • Unanimously approved the July Treasurer’s report.

Jonestown Borough Council meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at 295 S. Mill St. The next meeting will be held on Sept. 5. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.

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Emily Bixler was born and raised in Lebanon and now reports on local government. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano and going for hikes.

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