Burns: $100,000 grant to mitigate Nanty Glo Borough flooding

State funding to tame rising waters of Black Lick Creek

EBENSBURG, May 8 – Addressing a concern that arose from a state agency inspection, state Rep. Frank Burns has secured a $100,000 state grant for Nanty Glo Borough to improve its levee system to mitigate potential Black Lick Creek flooding.

Burns, D-Cambria, said he pursued state help for the 2,500-person borough to address an immediate problem, but also as part of a long-range upgrade plan.

“They want to make things more recreational. We got them some money previously, and this is the next step toward what they need,” Burns said.

Bill Dunchuck, vice president of Nanty Glo Borough Council, said Burns has previously obtained two grants -- one for $66,616, the other for $87,800 – for a total $154,416, for the Davis Run Reservoir Outlet Project.

Those two grants funded repairs to the dam head wall, including concrete work at the top of the dam wall and its spillway, Dunchuck said, moving toward council’s desire “to make this a recreation area, to stock it with fish and open it up to the public.”

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“Frank Burns was instrumental in getting us the grant. He’s been very helpful to Nanty Glo … If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have what we have now.” – Bill Dunchuck, vice president of Nanty Glo Borough Council.

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Dunchuck said the latest state grant -- $100,000 from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program – will fund Phase 1 of a separate levee improvement project, which includes flood mitigation efforts such as culvert spall repairs, erosion controls, pipe lining, pipe cleaning and jetting, and dredging.

“Black Lick Creek winds through the town, and when the Department of Community and Economic Development does an inspection, they tell us what needs corrected so it doesn’t flood,” summarized Dunchuck.

“Frank Burns was instrumental in getting us the grant. He’s been very helpful to Nanty Glo … If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have what we have now. He does take care of Nanty Glo Borough.”