(1/2020) Borough moves forward with H2O grant

During the regularly scheduled October 30 Board meeting for the Carroll Valley Water and Sewer Authority, a system type was selected and the Authority elected to move ahead with an H2O grant application for work to be completed at the Eastewater Treatment Plant. The scope of work would include the construction of a new dewatering read control building and UV disinfection system and building. The total cost is estimated at $1,379,000, with a grant request of $689,000. H2O grant applications were due on December 13.

The H2O program is for water and sewer projects that have a total cost of more than $500,000. H2O available funding is extremely limited, and will be highly competitive, especially for the Borough, since it has not yet drawn down on previous funding for the WWTP improvements.

Borough looks to design new website

In an effort to design a new website that is user friendly and easier to manage, Carroll Valley Borough Council voted to approve staff to move forward in engaging with a new website design company to create a new website for the borough. CivicPlus is a software Platform built for modern local governments allowing you to work seamlessly and securely with new and existing data in an efficient way.

As described by Borough Manager Dave Hazzlett, the borough already set aside $10,000 in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget for website re-design. CivicPlus presented borough staff with rates including a three-year payment plan, but the contract had to be signed by the end of the year if staff didn’t want to incur the new rates, which were more costly. The re-design would cost $8,500, but could be split into three payments over three years. The annual up-keep/maintenance cost for the website would be approximately $2,500 per year.

Hazlett noted that staff has been struggling to get the information up onto the borough’s current website. Meeting minutes have not been posted for months, due to program glitches and errors. Staff will work with local experts to finalize the final product/design of the new website as they move forward with this project.

Conservation District’s 2020 tree seedling sale

Mark your calendar for the Adams County Conservation District’s tree seedling sale. Native bareroot seedlings, transplants and containerized trees and shrubs may be ordered from the Adams County Conservation District for its 2020 Tree Seedling Sale starting on March 1. Pick up date is Thursday April 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the pole building behind the Ag Center on 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg. Names of those who placed a pre-order will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a free pack of five tree shelters and stakes.

The District tries to balance its offerings for the homeowner as well as the larger landowner plus those in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. New this year is the Shagbark hickory and the winterberry holly, while returning this year is the Canada serviceberry and the black chokeberry. Also offered for pre-order sale are herbaceous plants, including bee balm, sun drops, beardtongue, false indigo, snow flurry heath aster and blue-stemmed goldenrod, as well as bluebird, bat boxes and rain barrels.

Please contact the ACCD at 717-334-0636, email shull@adamscounty.us, or visit www.adamscounty.us. You will need to mail or drop off your order form, along with your check payable to the ACCD by March 1st for the containerized plants and March 26th for all other orders.