Group Seeks Access To Funds For Canonsburg Lake

The Canonsburg Lake Restoration and Improvement Association (CLRIA) approached Peters Township Council to approve a measure to access funds that were granted to another organization 6 years ago. The Washington County Watershed Alliance (WCWA) received a donation of $100,000 from Peters Township in 2013. Those funds were earmarked for engineering purposes to restore Canonsburg Lake. The WCWA allocated funds to the CLRIA over the years. Grant funding to benefit the CLRIA has been difficult to obtain because of the relationship between the two organizations and because the CLRIA was not a certified 501c3 non-profit entity. The CLRIA took care of the designation and petitioned Peters Township to authorize the transfer of the funds instead of asking for a refund. That request was granted by council in a 6-0 vote. Tim Silbaugh, Chairman of the CLRIA states that the monies earmarked for engineering will be used for those purposes. He went on to explain that the lake is an important venue because of the income it generates for local businesses from the tourists that visit the lake.