Shoveling for money

Milford — Whether it be for a new school, a new park or bridge — officials are hoping that some of the billions in economic stimulus money will come their way as federal authorities seek “shovel-ready” projects. Delaware Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Candis Finan says she’s hoping the district’s shelved replacement of the Westfall elementary school will be eligible. She pitched the idea in a recent trip to Washington. The project was authorized before concerns about the economy prompted school directors to put the $23 million project on hold. “Now we have to wait and see what they mean by ‘shovel ready’,” Finan said. Dingman Township considered stimulus funding earlier this month. Township Secretary Karen Kleist noted that construction-ready projects are needed. Supervisors Chair Tom Mincer readily came up with a list of local projects which could be funded. “The proposed township municipal park is ready as well as township bridge repairs, a new highway department garage is needed and we can use stimulus finds for road repairs.” When decisions are made, infrastructure economic stimulus funds will be dispersed to municipalities by PennDOT. In Milford Borough, a proposed new borough parking lot off Broad Street and the new central office of the Pike County Public Library could be candidates for funding, as both are well into development phases. Neither borough council officials nor library fundraisers were available for comment as the Courier went to press. Borough Authority vice-Chair Tom Hoff said planned water main replacements might be eligible, but other funding has been applied for and he concluded, “I’m not filling out all those forms again for anyone.”