Water plant work kicks off new year in Grove City
Jan. 17—GROVE CITY — The new year is off to a busy start for Grove City borough.
"They've just started work this week," Borough Manager Vance Oakes said earlier this month of the new water treatment plant project.
The former Girl Scout lodge back near the ball fields at Grove City Memorial Park has been demolished to make way for the plant, which will include large concrete tanks underground.
It will not interfere with park visitors or activities, Oakes said, noting the playground and trails in that area.
Water is currently treated at a plant on Park and Harvard streets; it will be disconnected and used for storage.
The project will take about two years and costs around $9.4 million and is being paid for with bond issues and possibly grants.
A monthly water rate increase for this year is also going toward the project.
Other utility projects in the borough this year will include water and sewer line work on State Street and Gilmore Avenue; storm sewer line replacement on Woodland Avenue; and gas line work on Lincoln, Miller and Memorial avenues, Oakes said.
Monthly trash bills doubled this year. The contract with lone bidder Tri-County Industries Inc. has a new service for borough customers: electronic waste recycling and household hazardous waste.
"It's more than just electronic items," he said, noting things like batteries and pool chemicals.
The quarterly program starts March 21, and residents will receive complete details with their utility bill in the mail.
In business happenings:
—Grove City Brew Haus has opened at the former Voodoo Brewery, 147 S. Broad St..
—The former Dream Maker Mattress store at 117 S. Broad St. is now home to financial consultant Allegheny Consolidated and the future storefront for K-9 Confections, which makes pet treats.
—Steigerwald's Kitchens and Baths had relocated from downtown to 1037 E. Gilmore Road, just outside of Grove City.
—The space at 120 S. Broad St. has been taken over by Transformation Church, which recently held its first service there, Oakes said.
—ModWash withdrew its application to build a car wash at the former Perkins restaurant site, 915 W. Main St., said Taylor Pokrant, the borough's secretary and code enforcement and zoning officer.
—At 317 Erie St., the former armory is now occupied by Grove City Christian Academy, which will use the space for a gym and lockers; the school is maintaining the historical features of the building, Pokrant said.
The Army National Guard is finishing up improvements, such as more parking, at the current armory, 160 George Junior Road, as part of a Readiness Center project.
—The Grove City Airport has a new hangar while a runway extension, update of the master plan, more storage and crack sealing are in the works.
The airport, run by Grove City Aviation, is in Springfield Township and owned by the borough.
The property was previously home to the Walter O'Conner farm. He gave the land to the borough in the 1960s for general aviation purposes, Oakes said.
He was disappointed to report that the individuals who vandalized the park in mid-December by driving through the ball fields have not been identified.
But he was happy to share that All Good Things Thrift Shoppe has donated $1,000 to help pay for the repairs plus $5,000 for new adaptive playground equipment at the park.
"We really appreciated that," Oakes said.
The organization also gave a contribution for police department equipment and bought Sheetz gift cards for the patrolmen.
The police department will be getting body cameras and dash cameras this year. Borough leaders still need to price them out and meet with vendors, Oakes said.
And the fire department has new leadership as of Jan. 1. Jesse Badger has replaced his father Jeff Badger as chief of the Grove City Volunteer Fire Department.
Council meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday with the exception of this month's meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. this Thursday at the borough building.
Info and meeting agenda: Visit grovecityonline.com
