Murrysville, Westmoreland move forward on trailhead project

The amount of annual funding towns receive from gas drilling impact fees might be on a downward trend, but with $160,000 saved up, Murrysville is finding ways to put it to good use.

The latest is a $50,000 bump in the municipality's contribution to a trailhead along the future path of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail.

The trailhead, adjacent to Airgas along Route 22, will include a welcome center and restrooms. The cost of the project is being shared by Murrysville and Westmoreland County, which received a $50,000 grant from the state's Department of Community & Economic Development to help fund it.

Jim Morrison, Murrysville's chief administrator, said county officials rejected an initial round of bids. After changing the scope of work and having some of it performed by municipal public works crews, the project was re-bid but ultimately needed an additional $75,000.

“The county has agreed to fund another $25,000, and we're recommending using $50,000 in Act 13 funds since recreation projects are an eligible expense,” Morrison said.

That money will be combined with $150,000 already committed to the project from the municipality's capital reserve, and $175,000 from the county.

Council approved the project by a 5-0 vote; councilmen Jeff Kepler and Josh Lorenz were absent.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-2862, pvarine@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MurrysvilleStar.