Brian Hagberg
GLADE TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Glade Township Supervisors discussed plans for the use of some of the Township’s American Rescue Plan funds during their regular meeting on Tuesday.
Chief among those plans is a potential upgrade to pumps in the Township’s Front Street pump station and a major donation to the Glade Volunteer Fire Department.
“We’ve had some trouble with the Front Street station,” Supervisor Will Pearson said. “The question for now is can we upgrade that forced main and how big and how much?”
The Supervisors discussed the pump issues with Steve Halmi of Deiss & Halmi Engineering, Inc. to help determine what upgrades or replacements can be made to the existing pair of grinder pumps in the station without having to change the entire line.
“You want the pump station to pump to capacity with one pump,” Halmi said.
Recent precipitation would make it difficult for Halmi to fully assess the pump station and both he and the Supervisors agreed for him to return at a later date, possibly as soon as May 11, for a closer examination of both pumps.
Regardless of what the final project entails, the Township plans to use ARP dollars to cover the cost.
“The pump upgrade is the perfect project to spend (ARP) money on,” Township Secretary Tiffany Smith said.
VFD Donation
Given the struggles facing first responders and municipal VFDs across the state, the Supervisors felt allocating ARP dollars to the Glade VFD would be a wise investment.
“We’re kind of kicking around the idea of maybe a $25,000 donation to the Fire Department,” Vice Chairman Rusty Zigler said. “We would like to keep it (the ARP funds) in (the Township).”
Since those dollars must be spent by the end of 2026, Smith said the Township could allocate the $25,000 to the fire fund now, then issue checks as needed to the VFD.
“We can hold onto it as long as it is allotted to them,” Smith said.
