(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, the Beaver Falls City Council heard a presentation from Connor Haney of The Reclaim Project, a non-profit organization set to help lower recidivism in Beaver County through a re-entry employment program. Nearly a dozen houses that haven’t had taxes paid on them–and are now in the hands of the county itself–are being sought after by The Reclaim Project.

“What we are asking is that the city of Beaver Falls purchase these houses,” Haney said, “and then–through the grant that we have received–once Beaver Falls’ ownership efforts after signing a deed to that house, the county will be able to send a check to you guys that we will then invoice you for minus the cost of the house so that–in the end–the house will cost Beaver Falls nothing. The grant will take care of that.”

Haney also mentioned that the buildings that would be claimed by the city at no charge would not be demolished, but deconstructed. Mayor Kenya Johns thanked Haney for the presentation and his efforts with city manager Charles Jones and fire chief Mark Stowe. The decision on buying the houses was not voted on at the meeting.

Also from the city council meeting:

• Two repository purchases were made to Jacques Pope on 7th Street and ELMM Enterprises, LLC on 3rd Avenue
• A pair of city block parties were set in motion; a Unity For Community basketball tournament on July 31, and a CDC block party on August 2
• A positive update from Fire Chief Mark Stowe on the rescue of two dogs from the fire on College Hill on Monday, including new firefighters who helped with the previously heavier workload by a shorter staff

The next city council meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 26 at the City Building at 7:00 PM.