Donora: Handicapped accessibility may be upgraded

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com

Donora council may look to upgrade the borough’s handicapped accessibility when it’s time to apply for Local Share Account and Community Development Block Grant funds this year.
LSA grants are funded by gaming revenue generated by the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in North Strabane Township.
At Thursday night’s workshop meeting, borough Administrator Terri Petroske told council she’s been talking to Nathan Voytek of the Washington County Redevelopment Authority about what kinds of projects are most likely to be accepted for LSA funding and CDBG grants.
Petroske said she has been brainstorming ideas and was thinking about fixing sidewalks on Sixth and Seventh streets to make the borough look more inviting.
She said Voytek suggested using the LSA and CDBG funds as matching funds for a grant to improve the handicapped accessibility of the borough building. Petroske said the borough has heard some complaints from residents about the lack of accessibility at the building, the quality of the ramp leading to the offices and the bathrooms.
Petroske said the projects are more likely to be accepted because they will make the borough building ADA compliant.
Petroske asked council members if they had any other ideas for projects to submit for the funding, and Councilman Donnie Pavelko suggested cleaning the exterior of the borough building.
“Your house is supposed to be the nicest part of your property and we have to get that looking better,” Pavelko said. “I go into a town and I see a municipal building in disrepair, that doesn’t make me think the town is nice.”

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