Westmoreland County
County advances housing safety, treatment programs and major infrastructure funding.
Written by Bethani Cameron
While public comment centered on immigration enforcement, most formal actions taken by commissioners focused on housing, public health and infrastructure investments.
The commission accepted $5.7 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes program to support lead paint remediation and home health improvements for eligible households.
The board also approved cooperation agreements tied to economic development efforts and potential blighted property tax abatements in the City of Latrobe.
Commissioners approved paying for treatment-based alternatives to incarceration for individuals convicted of drug-related offenses.
As part of the county’s opioid response plan, officials also authorized the purchase of 500 overdose response boxes to expand access to life-saving supplies. ***Organizational first responders can receive kits thought designated Centralized Coordinating Entities (CCEs).
Boxes can contain naloxone to reverse overdose as well as personal protective equipment, test strips for fentanyl, and wound care supplies.
Pennsylvania has a standing order in place to ensure residents who are at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose and those in a position to assist are able to obtain Naloxone.
The county’s going to be able to fix more bridges because of higher reimbursements from a combination of federal bridge funds, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and gas drilling fees through Act 13. The reimbursement funding for the Local Bridge Preservation Project is rising from $800,000 to $4 million.
The commissioners also approved the purchase of 119 laptop computers for county departments and updated time-and-attendance software funded through a foundation-supported pilot program.
Finally, if Allegheny County also gets on board, the Sutersville Bridge will officially be renamed the Sons of Sutersville and Elizabeth Fallen Heroes Memorial Bridge, though everyone will continue to just call it the Sutersville Bridge.
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