In a unanimous vote, Pottsville City County on Monday refused to contribute funds or be the sponsor of the state's $8.3 million plan to replace the deteriorating steel grate Collins Street Bridge connecting the city to Palo Alto.
"This is not what I came here to hear," said Palo Alto Borough Council President John Deatrich Jr., a supporter of the replacement project, who attended the city council meeting.
"If we're going to go out and borrow money, we could use it for street repairs," said Mayor John D.W. Reiley.
The council rejected the project with a motion by Councilman Michael P. Halcovage, which was seconded by Councilman James T. Muldowney and supported with 'nay' votes from Councilman Mark Atkinson, Councilwoman Lori A. Spotts and Mayor Reiley.
The vote followed a March 27 meeting of officials from the borough, the city and the county, in which each discussed the possibility of each contributing $200,000 to fulfill a $600,000, 5-percent match. It was held at the offices of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Deatrich said.
The county commissioners said in February they had their share accounted for. Deatrich said the borough had $50,000 in savings and would need to borrow the additional $150,000. City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said the city would have to go out and borrow $200,000.
But the city would have to do more than that if the project goes forward, Palamar said .
Ronald J. Young Jr., district press officer for the state Department of Transportation's District 5, Allentown, stated previously that the bridge is owned by the City of Pottsville.
That being the case, the city would be required to be the sponsor of the project and borrow up to $12 million as a line of credit for the project, Palamar said.
"The Collins Street Bridge Construction Project is a reimbursement grant initiative, in which invoices are paid to the contractor then submitted to the commonwealth for approval and reimbursement causing a need for an interim financing line of credit," according to Resolution 57 of 2012, which council rejected Monday night.
Reiley said the city had a difficult time dealing with a similar situation during the 2010 construction of Union Station at 300 S. Centre St., a $15.4 million project paid for by state and federal funds.
"The money just didn't come in a timely fashion and it put a strain on our administrative people here," Reiley said.
"Pottsville council seemed to be really turned off about being the sponsor and that's understandable. It think there's a bad taste in their mouth because they sponsored that previous project and I don't think it was a good experience," Deatrich said.
Looking ahead, Deatrich said he's going to hold out hope for the bridge project. "We filed for a loan with the Department of Transportation. We're still going to try to come up with our $200,000 share. Then, we're hoping to continue discussions between the parties," Deatrich said.
For 5 1/2 years, the deteriorating steel grate bridge connecting Pottsville to Palo Alto has been closed to traffic. At one time, it provided passage for more than 150 passenger vehicles per day, Daniel E. Kelly, city superintendent of streets, said previously.
On June 22, 2006, the city closed the bridge on the recommendation of STV Inc., Douglassville, a firm contracted by PennDOT to inspect it.
PennDOT has put an $8.3 million plan to replace the bridge on hold until area municipal officials gather up the 5-percent match.
In other matters at Monday's meeting, the council hired a contractor to upgrade traffic control devices at 12th and West Market streets, a project that's been in the planning stages for more than two years.
The city hired Kuharchik Construction Inc. for the project, which will cost $268,004.20. The city is planning to install four new traffic poles with overhead signal lights, install four pedestrian signals and curb cuts to accommodate wheelchair users.
The city is financing the project with federal Community Development Block Grant funds and a state Automated Red Light Enforcement grant, Palamar said.