Cambria recreation authority hires maintenance specialist, transfers city lots to JRA
The group approved the hire of a new maintenance specialist, Vincent Heiss, and transferred five properties along Somerset Street in Johnstown's Kernville section to the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority.
CCCRA Executive Director Cliff Kitner said the actions will be a benefit to the organization, both in helping with workload and in alleviating property care stress.
'Obviously, with all the trail we're building, I want to eliminate some of our maintenance,' Kitner said.
The five Kernville properties were donated to the authority years ago as part of the Urban Connectivity project that aims to connect pathways through the city. Kitner said there are some structures on the lots that still need to be removed, but it's unclear if that might happen.
When Vision Together 2025 approached the authority about acquiring a lot to build a home there, it made sense to offer all five to the JRA so the properties could be put to use, Kitner said. He added that hauling the authority's equipment to work in that area can be difficult, as well.
Board member Brad Clemenson suggested a right-of-way be recorded on the deeds during the transfers to allow for the potential development of a trail in the future. It has been proposed, as part of the connectivity project, that a trail follow Somerset Street along the river.
'Something to talk about,' Clemenson said. 'I don't think we have to resolve it right now.'
Kitner told him that's a discussion that can be had with the parties involved.
As for Heiss, Kitner said he'll be a 'tremendous asset' to the organization. Following the retirement of longtime maintenance specialist Bruce Eash in January, the authority was left solely with specialist Alex Cruley.
Kitner said it made sense to have two specialists to help take care of the trails, due to the amount of county-owned and maintained trails doubling since Kitner's start more than 10 years ago.
In other business, the board was updated on the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grant project for the Ghost Town Trail extension.
Next week, bids will be put out for two bridges between the North Street trailhead in Blacklick Township and Nanty Glo, where the path will meet the Ghost Town Trail C&I Extension and complete the largest rail-trail loop on the East Coast once finished.
Kitner said all the permits are in place and that loop will be completed this year, which is a relief. He compared the feeling to nearing the end of a marathon and getting a burst of energy out of excitement to finish.
'When you start something and you think it's going to be forever, but now you see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's like, 'Wow, we're going to cross that finish line,' ' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Yahoo
Recuse Or Represent? Kitner's Ties Test Voter Trust In Dallas City Council D11 Runoff
As the Dallas City Council District 11 runoff election peaks, voters are scrutinizing the candidates' backgrounds and potential conflicts of interest. Bill Roth, a commercial realtor, positions himself as a dedicated advocate for taxpayers for Texans, while his opponent, Jeff Kitner, faces a bigger set of questions regarding his dual roles and affiliations around the DFW area, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Many of those conflicts of interest are now raising local eyebrows. Kitner serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, a prominent lobbying organization representing a collection of 'business' interests, including developers and corporate contractors. If elected, Kitner has indicated plans to continue part-time employment with the Chamber, according to previous reports, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest if he wins the election. Dallas City Code Chapter 12A mandates that officials disclose and recuse themselves from matters where conflicts exist, potentially limiting Kitner's participation in key council decisions affecting District 11 – The very district he wants to represent. Some critics could argue that Kitner's ongoing ties to the Chamber could compromise his ability to impartially represent citizens in his area, especially when council votes intersect with Chamber members' interests. Steve Nordseth, treasurer of the Save Pepper Square Neighborhood Association, previously told DX, 'It's like applying for a job to be a referee while staying on as a coach of one of the competing teams.' In contrast, Roth emphasizes his commitment to serving District 11 without outside connections that might block his council responsibilities or cause any recusals. He is also currently campaigning for transparent governance and prioritizing the needs of local residents over external business interests. Practically every important decision, from zoning and development to infrastructure projects and city contracts, affects the interests of Chamber members in Kitner's district. And each time Kitner would have to recuse himself from those discussions, District 11's voice would be absent, as Nordseth previously pointed out to DX. The runoff election is scheduled for June 7. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the debate over potential conflicts of interest remains a pivotal issue in the race. 'Serving as a Dallas City Councilmember can sometimes blur the lines between full-time and all the time,' said current councilmember Cara Mendelsohn in April. Blur the lines, indeed. As of the time of publication, Kitner's team has not responded to multiple requests for comment on his campaign or any conflict of interests connected to serving District 11.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz selected as JRA's next executive director
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz will soon begin a new role in his lengthy public service career as executive director of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority. JRA board members Chairman Mark Pasquerilla, Vice Chairman Richard Truscello, Bruce Haselrig and Sherri Rae approved hiring Critz for the position during a regular monthly meeting Tuesday. Laura Huchel was absent from the meeting and vote as she was busy campaigning in her race for Johnstown mayor on Election Day. 'When I saw this come up, I thought, 'You know, I'm getting up in years, and this is a place where I can finish my career and do something really strong for my hometown,'' said Critz, 63. 'Sometimes things – you want to call it 'providence' or whatever – this happened. And I thought, 'Mark, this is for you. Get in there and do what you can for the city.' ' Critz currently works as the western regional director of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and executive director of the state's Rural Development Council. He is scheduled to begin as JRA's director June 30. 'I have a lot of obligations at the state for my bosses that I'm intertwined and entangled in that we have to unwind over the next six weeks or so,' Critz said. Critz was selected to succeed former Executive Director Melissa Komar, who resigned effective April 4 to take a job in the private sector. 'I think he's really qualified,' Pasquerilla said. 'Besides being a congressman himself, he was (the late U.S. Rep. John) Murtha's district director, which is a pretty big deal. His work for the state has been, I think, stellar. He has a lot of contacts in the state, so he kind of has that two lives. "I think he's going to be a good addition. We had a great director with Melissa Komar, but I think he's fit for this job. He's a Moxham resident and he wants to make a difference here in Johnstown. I'm very pleased about it.' Along with Critz's hiring, the board promoted Finance Director Cheryl Labosky to the position of deputy executive director/finance director. 'I look forward to the opportunity to work with Mark Critz in the next chapter of the authority,' said Labosky, who has been with the JRA for 11 years. 'I appreciate the continued support of our partners and stakeholders as we move forward together. I look forward to working with Mark and our dedicated team.' Together, Critz, Labosky and other JRA members will continue ongoing efforts on numerous projects, including the regional sewer system and land bank. A few of the major initiatives were updated during Tuesday's meeting. The board approved awarding a $1,271,070.24 contract to A. Liberoni Co. for the construction of a connector road for the Johnstown Urban Industrial Park that will be located in the Minersville neighborhood. The authority also voted to accept a $200,000 state grant for environmental cleanup at the former Cambria-Rowe Business College building, located at 221 Central Ave. in Moxham.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
CCCRA awards contract for final piece of Ghost Town Trail loop
EBENSBURG, Pa. – The Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority awarded a more than $2 million contract Friday for the final section of the Ghost Town Trail C&I Extension loop. Kukurin Contracting Inc., of Export, had the low bid, pending review by necessary parties. The work will consist of building two bridges over roadways and construction of less than a mile of trail for a total of $2,732,732. 'We're at the point I can see the finish line,' CCCRA Executive Director Cliff Kitner said. 'I'm excited to finally get there.' Once it is complete later this year, the connecting piece will finish the only rail-trail loop on the East Coast and just the second in the country. 'It is the linchpin to completing the Ghost Town Trail loop,' CCCRA Board President Thomas Kakabar said of this trail section. In December, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Ghost Town Trail's North Street trailhead in Blacklick Township for completion of the first section of the final piece of the loop, which included trail-building and construction of a box culvert that the trail now runs through. Kitner said work for the last portion had six bidders and the amount came in slightly higher than expected. Despite that, the work will move forward and be paid for through grants the authority has received from the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In other business, the group discussed future installation of the Joseph Dushaw Rest Area in Ebensburg along the Ghost Town Trail. They approved a quote from Milkie's Lawn & Landscape not to exceed $2,034 for gravel and stone to help develop the site. Kitner said in discussing the project with Milkie's, there may be some changes to the final design, but the work is coming along. Alex Cruley, maintenance specialist, said he and fellow maintenance specialist Vincent Heiss will install benches in that area in the coming weeks.
