City Council members are moving ahead with two grant applications to fix minor issues with the Indian Hollow Run flood prevention project.

The state Department of Environmental Protection completed construction in 1967 on the flood prevention project to decrease flooding in a water inundation zone that begins at a debris basin 200 feet south of East Fifth Avenue and 400 feet east of Beaty Street, extending southwest to the Conewango Creek. There are 20 homes in the area. Chad Yurisic, city engineer, noted in 2018 that minor maintenance issues were going to need attention in the future. The future has arrived.

Council members unanimously approved applying for grants to make recommended repairs to the flood prevention project.

“The DEP strongly recommended that the city investigate sources of funding to permanently address leaning walls within a 400 foot section of the concrete channel,” Yurisic said during a recent City Council meeting. “The recommended rehabilitation project would include demolition and replacement of the deficient channel section and fencing.”

City officials have identified two state grants that would pay for 85% of the project’s costs, with the city required to pay 15%. The city’s matching portion of the grant would be included in the 2026 city budget. Council members approved applying for both a Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program grant as well as a state Flood Mitigation Program grant. Councilman Jared Villella asked for clarification about the plan to apply for two grants if one would pay for the needed work, or if the city would add to the project if it receives both grants. Yurisic said the decision was made to apply for both grants because the city isn’t guaranteed to receive the full amount it is requesting from either grant. If the city does receive the full requested amount for both grants, the city would decline one of the grants. There was also a brief discussion if the city can decrease the project costs if it does some of the work with city employees.

“A lot of times, you don’t get the full amount you ask for, so we’ll apply for both and hope for the best,” Yurisic said.