Union City council approves $400,000 bridge grant application, paving payments and tax exonerations

Union City Borough Council unanimously approved multiple infrastructure and property-related actions on June 25, including a resolution to apply for a $400,000 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant to replace the Willow Street bridge.

Councilor Osborn moved and Councilor Kerns seconded the motion to apply for the bridge grant; the motion carried unanimously. The borough will seek the additional funds needed for the Willow Street bridge replacement through the Multimodal Transportation Fund.

The council also approved payment of an invoice from Cross Paving for $104,740.81. Council authorized $92,130.00 to be paid from Liquid Fuels funds and $12,610.81 from the General Fund. Councilor Steadman made the motion and Councilor Kerns seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Separately, the council passed two resolutions to exonerate property taxes for 11 Maple Street and 48 Atlantic Street, properties the transcript says were purchased by the Erie County Land Bank. Councilor Joyce moved and Councilor Steadman seconded the tax-exoneration motions; both carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The bridge grant application, if awarded, would fund a critical local infrastructure replacement project. The Liquid Fuels and county-aid disbursements finalize payments that complete the borough's 2024 paving work, and the tax exonerations clear municipal tax obligations for properties transferred to the Land Bank.

What’s next: The borough will pursue the Multimodal Transportation Fund application for the Willow Street bridge; no vote details on the grant award date were provided during the meeting.