Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Greater Latrobe board approves PSFIG application and expands Siemens audit to address original 1966 boilers
Loading...
Summary
The Greater Latrobe School District board voted to apply for a $5 million DCED Public Schools Facilities Improvement Grant (PSFIG) to help replace original 1966 boilers at the senior high; the board also authorized expanding an investment‑grade audit with Siemens to support an energy savings contract. The grant requires a 25% local match.
The Greater Latrobe School District board on Feb. 17 voted to seek a $5,000,000 Public Schools Facilities Improvement Grant (PSFIG) from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to finance upgrades tied to the district’s central heating systems.
The resolution, approved 6–2, directs district staff to submit the application; if awarded the grant would require a 25% local match of $1,250,000, according to the district presentation. Board members also approved a project development letter and an expansion of an Investment Grade Audit with Siemens Industry, Inc. to support development of an Energy Savings Performance Contract for decommissioning the SHS/JHS central boiler plant and converting to high‑efficiency systems.
Why it matters: administrators said the high school’s boilers are original equipment from 1966 and that replacing or converting the plant is necessary to improve energy efficiency and reduce ongoing maintenance risk. Business Administrator Dan Watson told the board the application phase has upfront engineering and grant‑application costs “somewhere around $30,000,” which would be incurred as part of the grant application and development work; the board was told those costs would be repurposed even if the grant is not awarded.
Board discussion focused on scope and cost. Member Andrew Repko asked what the grant would fund; district staff clarified it is focused on the SHS heating boiler system but that a full project could include controls, pumps, gas and water lines, valves and other related work. Facilities lead Kurt Thomas explained that the district is aiming to replace or convert aging boilers and address broader systems that affect gas consumption and efficiency.
The vote: the PSFIG application and the Siemens engagement passed with a 6–2 voice/roll‑call vote as recorded in the minutes. The motion was offered by Patrick Carney and seconded by Merle L. Musick.
Next steps: administrators said engineering documents are required for the application and that the district will refine cost estimates and match calculations if the grant advances to the award stage. No firm construction contract was approved at the Feb. 17 meeting.