Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton City officials are seeking grant funds from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission for a potential dock on the Allegheny River at the base of Liberty St. in this area.

City of Warren officials are seeking grant funds to help offset the cost for a proposed dock on the Allegheny River.

City Engineer Chad Yurisic told council that the idea of a public boat ramp on the river has been long discussed and said the state Fish & Boat Commission has opened a grant funding opportunity through Dec. 30 for which such a project would be eligible.

He said the idea is to place the dock at the base of Liberty St. given its proximity to nearby business and access to the city’s downtown commercial district.

He also highlighted the existing park lands with restroom facility and characteristics that could bring “favorable consideration” of the grant proposal.

What this means for other development proposals — the hotel — in that area is unclear. Should the hotel project proceed, discussions have centered around Breeze Point Landing no longer being a public park. That park, however, is presented in this grant as a benefit to the project.

“I cannot in all candor say that the hotel project is off the table,” City Manager Nancy Freenock told the Times Observer. “I am waiting to hear from the developer. I asked if he would consent to a public meeting; thus far I have not received a response. Just looking at the tenor of Council, I do not believe that there are sufficient votes to move the project forward unless public sentiment changes.”

Yurisic said the city would be required to provide a 50 percent match — with higher percentages of match increasing the odds of being funded — but said the match wouldn’t have to be just cash and could include in-kind services and other state funding sources.

The preliminary cost for the project is estimated at $2 million.

Councilman John Wortman asked — if the grant was successful — “does this bind us? Do we have to accept?”

“There is an agreement procedure,” Yurisic said. That means, if successful, the proposal would be before council again.

He asked, then, where the matching funds would come from.

Freenock said that Fish & Boat has $1 million to spend statewide but they indicated the city’s proposal might be eligible for and attract federal funding.

“If we do not get awarded federal money, we would not be able to match this,” she added, indicating that the city would apply for other state funds through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as a potential match. That application is due in April.

“We would know before that,” she said, if the federal funds are an option.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Wortman said.

Freenock noted she has already received letters of support from the businesses in the area.

Councilman Gregory Fraser raised concern about the condition of the river at that location.

“There’s no eddy at the bottom of Liberty St.,” he said. “I really like the concept. My concern is when the river is high, which it often is, it’s a risky operation.”

Yurisic explained that the dock as proposed wouldn’t be placed directly in the river as it exists now and an eddy would be developed where the dock would be located.

Council subsequently approved the grant application.