NANTY GLO – In this day and age of shrinking populations and stagnant tax bases, small, rural municipalities such as Nanty Glo are finding it increasingly difficult to stand alone.
Now, they are starting to follow a trend where local governments cooperate with their neighbors in an effort to purchase expensive equipment, collaborate on projects, combine work forces or apply for grants.
Samuel Sulkosky, Nanty Glo’s borough manager, said he and Councilman Steve Szymusiak recently visited Vintondale Borough Council members to see if they would be interested in collaborating to buy an $80,000 boom mower.
Described as a lawn mower with an arm extension, it would be used primarily to maintain vegetation along Nanty Glo’s levees. It can also be used to cut trees, trail areas and rights of way.
“(The borough) is responsible for the levees, and the state Department of Environmental Protection inspects them,” Sulkosky explained. “It takes all week to cut the levees just once, and those boom mowers can do it all in just a few hours.”
And while the borough has utilized Cambria County prison labor to do the job in the past, Sulkosky said inmates may not always be available.
He said the borough has applied to DEP for a matching grant to purchase the mower, and if successful, the borough will have to pay about $40,000 for its share.
And since neighboring Vintondale also has a levee system, Sulkosky and council members thought they might be interested in accessing the mower.
“Vintondale Borough got an award this year for the most improved levee in the state,” Sulkosky said. “They did a lot of work to bring it up to snuff.
“I started thinking maybe we would include (Vintondale), because the grants are looked at more favorable with intergovernmental cooperation.”
While members of Vintondale Borough Council could not immediately be reached for comment, Sulkosky said he and Szymusiak were pleased with the response from Vintondale.
“There was never any discussions or issues on doing anything together with Vintondale and Nanty Glo in the past, as far as I know,” Sulkosky said. “They were sort of shocked, I think.
“But they were very nice, and willing to listen, because they are under tight financial constraints like everyone else.”
Sulkosky said the borough has already applied for the grant to purchase the mower, and he is hopeful that the two communities will reach a common ground that may lead to future partnerships. He has also been talking to other neighbors, such as Jackson and Blacklick townships.
Being a good neighbor is nothing new to Jackson Township, which formed Central Cambria Coalition about three years ago together with Ebensburg Borough and Cambria Township. Manager Dave Hirko said local government partnerships are the best way to go, especially in this region.
“Cooperation is a big plus in getting grants,” Hirko said, adding that the coalition has received about five or six grants since it formed – grants that they would otherwise probably not have received.
“It has been very beneficial,” Hirko said. “We would be open to working with anyone, including Nanty Glo, where it would make sense.”
Local News
Borough, township may collaborate to buy mower
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
