Latest News from the Borough

Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Tax Credit Update

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The FY 2022-2023 PA HPTC applications open on Saturday October 1, 2022 and close on Monday October 31, 2022.

As a first-come, first-served program, it is highly recommend that applications are submitted on October 1, 2022. Please note these dates are published in the reauthorization legislation and are scheduled to be used in future fiscal years.

Program guidelines are available at https://dced.pa.gov/…/historic-preservation-tax-credit…/

If you have any questions, please reach out to HARB Administrator, Gina Thompson, at [email protected]
 

DEP Declares Drought Watch For 36 Counties, Asks For Voluntary Water Conservation

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Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the Commonwealth Drought Task Force has declared a drought watch for 36 counties and asks for voluntary water conservation in those counties.
 
“A few counties have experienced very dry conditions over the summer, and a number of others have inched into increasingly dry conditions in recent weeks. We’re asking Pennsylvanians in all of these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water,” said DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. 
 
The following counties are on drought watch: Berks, Bucks, Bradford, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Delaware, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming. For a map of drought declarations that’s updated daily, see the DEP drought web page.
 
Residents on drought watch are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5 to 10%, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day. 
 
DEP is notifying all water suppliers in these counties of the need to monitor their supplies and be prepared by updating their drought contingency plans as necessary. Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents for more stringent conservation actions. 
 
At this time, two public water suppliers are requiring residents to reduce their water use: Galeton Borough Water Authority in Potter County and Waterville Water Association in Lycoming County. 
 
Six suppliers are asking residents to voluntarily reduce their water use:
 
• BCI Municipal Authority, Clearfield County
• Driftwood Boro, Cameron County
• Jersey Shore Area Joint Water Authority, Lycoming County
• Lock Haven, Clinton County
• Palmerton Municipal Water Authority, Carbon County
• Pennsylvania American Water Company – Bangor District, Carbon County
 
Ways to Conserve Water at Home
 
There are many ways to conserve water at home, including: 
 
• Run water only when necessary. Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering. 
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often, and only with full loads.
• Water your garden in the cooler evening or morning hours, and direct the water to the ground at the base of the plant, so you don’t waste water through evaporation.
• Water your lawn only if necessary. Apply no more than 1 inch of water per week (use an empty can to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch). Avoid watering on windy and hot days. This pattern will encourage healthier, deeper grass roots. Over-watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought.
• When mowing your lawn, set the blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention. It also grows thicker and develops a deeper root system, so it can better survive drought.
• Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.
• Sweep your sidewalk, deck, or driveway instead of hosing it off.
• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40-50 percent less energy.
• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.
• Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall. For information, see this Penn State Extension guideOpens In A New Window.
 
 
How DEP Determines Drought Conditions
 
To determine drought conditions, DEP assesses information on public water supply levels and data on four indicators: precipitation, surface water (stream and river) flow, groundwater level, and soil moisture. Declarations aren’t based on one indicator alone, such as precipitation.  
 
The DEP Drought Coordinator monitors the indicators in close partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which maintains gauges in streams and wells in many locations across Pennsylvania. 
 
There are normal ranges for all four indicators. DEP makes drought status recommendations after assessing departures from these ranges for all indicators for periods of 3-12 months. For a map that’s updated daily to show the status of all four indicators for each county, see the USGS Pennsylvania drought condition monitoring websiteOpens In A New Window.
 
DEP shares these data and its recommendations with the state and federal agencies and other organizations that make up the Commonwealth Drought Task Force. Drought watch and warning declarations are determined by DEP, with the concurrence of the task force. 
 
Drought emergency declarations follow the same process, with final approval by the governor.  No county is in drought warning or emergency status at this time.
 
For more information on how DEP monitors conditions and makes drought status declarations, see the drought management fact sheet.
 
The next Commonwealth Drought Task Force meeting will be on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 1:00 PM.
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Deb Klenotic, [email protected], 717-783-9954

Historic Bellefonte Inc. presents Hometown Hero Banners

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UPDATE: Due to the Bellefonte Train Station being closed for roof repair you will need to drop off your application to M&M Copy Service located at 137 W High St, Bellefonte, PA Open Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm Application  Deadline extended until September 14th. 

Historic Bellefonte Incorporated is proud to announce the Hometown Hero Banner program will be re-established this year. All banners that are currently hanging will be taken down this spring from their location.

There will be a drive thru style Pick up Banner Day held at the armory grounds along Zion Road in Bellefonte. The date and time will be posted on HBI’s website (www.visitbellefonte.com), Bellefonte Borough’s website (www.bellefonte.net), on local social media and via postal service, so keep an eye on your mailbox.

We are pleased to see so many people in the community eager to honor their hero’s. Due to the significant increase of interest in banners, some new guidelines have had to be established moving forward.

– ALL banners will be displayed in ONLY two year periods

– In fairness to all families/individuals involved, the HH Comm. has decided that ALL banner placements will be random (due to the increased number)

– There will no longer be a renewal option at the end of the two-year period (due to the weathering of the banners)

For the most up to date information, please call the historic train station at 814-355-2917 and refer to the websites mentioned above

Thank you for helping us pay tribute to all those men and women from our community and surrounding communities who served or are currently serving.

Due to the Bellefonte Train Station being closed for roof repair you will need to drop off your application to M&M Copy Service located at 
137 W High St, Bellefonte, PA Open Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm Application  Deadline extended until September 14th. Sincerely,

The Hometown Hero Committee

Hometown-Hero-Banner-Application-2022

Borough Office Closed for Labor Day

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Borough offices will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022, in observance of Labor Day.
 
If your refuse is normally picked up on Monday, it will be picked up on Wednesday, September 7. The refuse crew will begin at 5:00 a.m. that day, so be sure to put your refuse container out the night before after 6:00 p.m. to avoid being missed.
 
STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE!

Bellefonte Borough Agreement of Sale on original Armory 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

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NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bellefonte Borough Agreement of Sale on original Armory 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

The Borough of Bellefonte has entered into an agreement of sale for the original Armory building at 301 North Spring Street. There were a number of events that led to this decision. The borough’s police depa1tment space, located in the borough building at 236 West Lamb Street, has inadequate spacing. The Borough’s Strategic Management Plan, completed in 2021, recommended that the facility be upgraded.

In January of this year after a new mayor and council members were sworn in, Mayor Johnson directed the Police Chief to give Borough Council a tour of the current police facility prior to their second council meeting of the year. The intention of this tour was to make the elected leadership aware of the shortfalls and inadequacies of the current police facility. Building security, officer/visitor safety issues, lack of space, lack of modernization, employee morale and the lack of a professional appearance/image were all issues that needed to be addressed within the current facility. Council overwhelmingly agreed with staff leadership that a facility overhaul was long overdue and gave approval and direction to the Chief of Police and Borough manager to come up with an action plan to rectify the facility shortfalls.

Council approved having a design professional look at options for expanding and relocating the existing police department space. The cost of the upgrades was estimated to be $1.8 million.

Mayor Gene “Buddy” Johnson went to Senator Jake Corman’s office and explained the project to the Senator. Senator Corman was successful in securing a grant from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development in the amount of $1.8 million. These grant funds do not require a local match.

While state grant funds were being sought, the idea of purchasing the former Armory building and relocating the police department to this building became an option. The property had been on the market for a long time. The square footage available and the per square foot asking price for the building was extremely attractive. At minimum the building needs some upgrades which include ADA access, the installation of an elevator, and a sprinkler system. The purchase price and necessary upgrades will all be done at a cost of $1.8 million or less. “Spending $1.8 million to purchase and renovate the 26,000 square foot historic Armory over renovating the 2,000 square foot police department space will benefit the Armory, the entire Borough Staff and residents,” said Council President Randy Brachbill.

“The new building will address ALL of the issues that the police department has been dealing with for decades. The Department is looking forward to seeing firsthand the benefits of working in a facility that provides for all of the needs of the Department. This facility upgrade will greatly alleviate many tangible and non-tangible obstacles that our officers and staff face on a daily basis. Obstacles that largely go unseen by the citizens in which the Department proudly serves,” said Chief Shawn Weaver.

Since the Armory building provided additional square footage beyond what the police department needs, consideration is underway for moving the Borough Office and related departments as well. Storage of borough records may also be relocated. The relocation will provide a large meeting room for council meetings as well as smaller conference rooms for depa1iment meetings and training.

The current municipal building would continue to be the public works operations center and may have leasable space to suppo1i additional entitles, yet to be determined.

What about the loss of borough tax revenue by taking this building off of the taxable property rolls? The building currently has two tenants under lease that will not only make up for the loss in property taxes but will allow for operating and maintenance funds for the building. The building has additional space that potentially can be leased as well.

The Borough is planning to close on the property at the end of September and may be able to provide additional updates at that time.

The police department relocation would take place sometime in 2023 after the necessary upgrades have been completed.

For more information:

Gene “Buddy” Johnson, Mayor, Bellefonte Borough Phone: 814-355-1501 x218

Email: [email protected].gov

ShaWn Weaver, Chief, Bellefonte Borough Phone: 814-355-1501

Email: [email protected].net

Ralph Stewart, Borough Manager, Bellefonte Borough

Phone:814-355-1501

Email: [email protected]

2021 ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT

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We’re pleased to present to you the 2021 Annual Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the water quality and our constant goal to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. To view the 2021 Annual Water Report please click here. If you have any questions or concerns about this report please contact, Ralph Stewart, Borough Manager at the Bellefonte Borough Office, 236 West Lamb St, Bellefonte, PA or call 814-355-1501 or the Bellefonte Borough Authority, which meets the 1st Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m.

LERTA Program

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PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR LERTA DISTRICT APPLICATION

The following application procedure has been adopted:

  1. Submit application to Bellefonte Borough, 236 West Lamb Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823, c/o Borough Manager.
  2. Obtain Certification from the Borough that the property and the improvement under consideration is eligible for LERTA tax abatement.
  • Send a copy of the application to:
    • Centre County Tax Assessment office, 420 Holmes Street, Bellefonte, PA, 16823.
    • Bellefonte Area School District LERTA District Program, c/o Ken Bean, North Allegheny Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823

LERTA Application with Ordinance attached

CATA Annoucements

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CATA to Extend OnePass Discount Through July
CATA is pleased to announce that it has extended its fifty percent discount on OnePasses and Youth
Passes through the end of July 2022.
OnePasses and Youth Passes (available to persons under the age of 18 years) are available in increments
of one to twelve months and are normally available for purchase from CATA’s Customer Service Center
for $86.00 and $26.00 per month, respectively. During this period, they will be made available for
$43.00 and $13.00 per month, saving riders as much as $500.00 when purchasing a 12-month OnePass.
Passes may be used for fares on both CATABUS fixed-route and CATAGO! micro transit service
(currently available in Bellefonte, Pleasant Gap, and Boalsburg) and provide unlimited use of the
services.
For questions related to CATA’s new Sunday service or the extension of its pass discount, please contact
CATA’s Customer Service Center at (814) 238-CATA(2282).