BLAIRSVILLE--Blairsville Council Tuesday agreed to grant a special exception, allowing conversion of a vacant auto dealership along Rt. 22 into 20 efficiency apartments intended for students at the nearby WyoTech automotive school.
Acting on a recommendation from the borough planning commission, council unanimously agreed to allow the proposed development by owner Russell Bonarrigo Jr. at the former Bonarrigo Ford dealership at Rt. 22 and Dixon Street.
Council authorized Solicitor Matt Kovacik to draft an ordinance needed to enact the special exception in the borough's commercial zone.
Council members agreed creating apartments would be a good way to redevelop the body shop at the former Ford dealership.
"The planning commission felt it would fit in with present zoning," Borough Manager Ron Hood said. Currently, he noted, "Our zoning doesn't permit this type of activity, but it does allow hotels and motels."
As per the commission's recommendation, if the property is sold, the new owner would have to reapply for the special exception.
Although the commission referred to the development as a dormitory, Bonarrigo said he would like to remain flexible in how he markets his apartments.
"It's not only for students," he said. "You never know what's going to change."
Councilman Scott Cavender suggested the authorizing ordinance list senior housing and patio homes as permitted uses, as well as a dormitory.
After the Bonarrigo dealerships, the site later was occupied by Tri-Star Motors before it moved a few miles east to its current location at the former Chestnut Ridge Plaza in Burrell Township.
With Blairsville's cash flow tightening as the end of the year approaches, council agreed to have Valuation Engineers Incorporated of Pittsburgh conduct an updated valuation of borough property, provided the firm will delay billing for its service until after Jan. 1.
Hood said the firm will charge $2,450 for a fixed asset appraisal or an annual fee of $245 over five years for an annual reevaluation service.
He indicated the property valuation is an important step for obtaining updated quotes for borough insurance coverage.
"We have not had a valuation of our property for at least seven years," Hood said.
"You're supposed to do one every five years."
After payment of this month's bills, Hood reported, there will be $57,476.01 remaining in the borough general fund and $9,112.99 in an additional checking account to see Blairsville through the remainder of 2004.
Hood said some liquid fuels money can be transferred into the general fund to reimburse for road salt purchased earlier in the year.
But, "In November and December, we will have to be very cautious about our spending."
To prepare for the 2005 budget year, council agreed to advertise for a $180,000 tax anticipation loan.
One expense the borough will have before the end of the year is production and mailing of an annual informational newsletter issued in cooperation with the Blairsville Municipal Authority (BMA).
The authority and the borough share some equipment and staff.
Hood, who doubles as manager of the authority, cited an initial estimated cost of $1,082 each for the borough and BMA.
But he indicated that figure should go up given council's directive that the newsletter be mailed to every home address in the community.
Council agreed to use a third-party certified public accountant obtained by BMA whenever Hood requires advice on the borough's financial records. The borough will be billed only for items Hood researches specifically for the municipality.
Hood noted he previously has turned to the borough's auditing firm with questions on such matters.
But new ethics guidelines will prevent the auditor from providing such advice beginning next year.
Clearing up another ethics-related issue, Hood received a ruling from the state ethics commission that Leann Chaney, who has written grants for the borough for the past few years, can continue to do so while also performing such work in her capacity as a planner with the Indiana County office of planning and development.
That's as long as no conflict of interest arises between the grant projects she handles for the two entities.
Council member Mary Ugoletti recently testified in Pittsburgh, representing Blairsville before the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), the regional planning body for distribution of federal highway funding.
Ugoletti presented the borough's plan for streetscaping and pedestrian and biking improvements along Market and Campbell streets, if the project is approved for about $1 million through the Hometown Streets program.
She noted the borough is benefiting from cooperation with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which has proposed increasing the scope of a master site plan it has funded for Blairsville's WyoTech Park.
The expanded plant also would include design and engineering on Market and Campbell, a prerequisite for receiving the Hometown Streets money.
Still, Ugoletti said, "It's a highly competitive program."
She noted there are 86 other projects vying for a total of $3 million in funding, 22 of which showed up to make presentations to the commission.
If the entire $1 million isn't available in the current funding round, she said the borough may consider completing just a portion of the streetscaping initially, phasing the rest of the project over several more years.
She said the fate of the funding request should be known by early December.
Jim Pashek of Pashek & Associates, has been working on the master plan for the WyoTech Park and more than 300 acres of adjacent federal flood control property bordering the Conemaugh River in Blairsville. He also testified before the SPC.
Applicants are being sought for two vacancies each on the borough shade tree commission and the parking authority.
In a separate report, Blairsville Improvement Group (BIG) Manager Greg Fornalczyk noted the organization will be assembling welcome packets to be distributed to WyoTech students in January.
Any businesses which would like to have information or coupons included in the packet should contact the BIG office at 724-458-8588.
Fornalczyk noted he has been keeping in touch with such organizations as Welcome To Indiana, Downtown Indiana the Blairsville Historical Society and the County Chamber of Commerce.
He also has scheduled meetings with the area's state legislators and will be attending Pennsylvania Downtown Center training in Harrisburg Monday and Tuesday.
