MOUNT CARMEL - Emily Homanick's voice cracked when she said "thank you" to state Sen. John Gordner and Rep. Kurt Masser.
Her neighbors dried their tears, too, when they realized the public funds the politicians brought to Mount Carmel Friday will keep their homes from being flooded.
Gordner, R-27, and Masser, R-107, presented the borough with a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund the Shamokin Creek Flood Control project in a ceremony witnessed by affected residents Friday afternoon.
"The borough has fought for this project for 20 to 30 years," Gordner said in the borough council meeting room. "It is something that we have really fought to help with and never gave up on, and now it will be a reality."
'Waited and waited'
The $16 million project will alleviate flooding from Shamokin Creek that has repeatedly damaged several homes, including Homanick's, who lost the contents and appliances of her basement in the Flood of 2011.
"For 20 years, we have waited and waited, and you wonder if it will ever be done. We are all very grateful for the work you have done for us," Homanick said. "If you need us with shovels out there, we will do that, too."
Council president Tony Matulewicz beamed with happiness as he was handed the award letter from Gordner.
"This is a long time coming, but this will alleviate a big financial burden from the borough," he said.
With the grant, the borough has amassed $816,972.83 for its share of the project. The rest coming from borough CDBG grant monies from 2008-2011, according to minutes from council's Oct. 26 meeting. Northumberland County has also pledged $253,390 toward the effort, for a total of $1,070,362.83.
The borough must pay a $787,000 reimbursement agreement to the state, allocate $100,000 for the relocation of utilities, spend $20,000 to acquire coal company land along the creek, and another $160,000 for admistration, legal and engineering costs and contingency funding.
Gordner and Masser gave credit to others who helped, including C. Champ Holman, acting deputy secretary for community affairs for the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
"There were a number of times that I couldn't have a conversation with Kurt or John without the flood project coming up," Holman said. "This is a very competitive grant and its wonderful to see it go through and finally be done."
"I know that John has been working longer on this project than I have, but ever since I came into office, he has guided me through it," Masser said. "He was the one who kept informing me as to who I needed to talk to in order to keep this going."
Also receiving credit was SEDA-COG representatives David R. Grey and William Siegel.
"They have been working the phone with the borough, our offices and state offices constantly, keeping everything on track," Masser said.
Agreement signed
Last week, the borough announced that the Department of General Services issued a letter saying the borough's requirements in property attainment have been met, allowing the project to proceed.
The department added on an obligation of signing a reimbursement agreement with the borough. Council approved the agreement and signed seven copies of it.
"We presented the agreements to Sen. Gordner's aide, who will hand deliver them to the DGS," Matulewicz said.
Siegel said DGS is currently drawing up the specifications for the bid package, which is expected to be awarded in August at the earliest.