Burns delivers $318,240 for Nanty Glo levee improvements
‘Frank clears the way to get that money. He knows the people to talk to.’
Rep. Frank Burns April 27, 2026 | 1:27 PM
JOHNSTOWN, April 27 – Much-needed improvements to the flood-control levee system in Nanty Glo Borough came to fruition with a $318,240 grant secured with support from state Rep. Frank Burns, which will ensure 17 pipes are in good working order.
“There are some mandatory things that need to be done to the levee, and they need to dredge the creek there because it’s building up with dirt and muck mounds,” said Diane Holby, a Nanty Glo council member, providing a broad overview of the situation.
Bill Dunchuck, Nanty Glo council president, said that after a $100,000 state grant for levee-related flood mitigation was awarded in 2023, an inspection by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found “many more problems” that needed to be corrected.
Dunchuck said the problems being tackled by the recent $318,240 grant are the repair of seven levee pipes, the cleaning and jetting of 10 other pipes, and the abandonment of one pipe. Each of the pipes being repaired or cleaned ranges between 15 and 24 inches in diameter; the pipe being abandoned has an 18-inch diameter.
The levee is important, Dunchuck said, because it provides flood control on the creek that runs through the 2,500-resident borough, ensuring its banks don’t overflow during heavy rains.
Dunchuck said Burns’ help in obtaining this and other state grants does not go unnoticed in Nanty Glo.
______________________________________________________________________
“If it wasn’t for Frank Burns, in this borough we wouldn’t have what we have now. He’s very instrumental in getting us money, including for the fire department. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be able to do these kind of things.” –Bill Dunchuck, Nanty Glo Borough council president.
______________________________________________________________________
“If it wasn’t for Frank Burns, in this borough we wouldn’t have what we have now,” Dunchuck said. “He’s very instrumental in getting us money, including for the fire department. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be able to do these kinds of things.”
Holby said Burns is always amenable to listening to borough needs and doing what he can to secure state financial assistance.
______________________________________________________________________
“Frank listens to you and sees what he can do to help. I don’t think he’s ever said, ‘I can’t do anything.’ He’s a very good representative.” – Diane Holby, Nanty Glo Borough council member.
______________________________________________________________________
“Frank’s great: You tell him a problem, he gets right to it. He doesn’t forget about it,” Holby said. “Frank listens to you and sees what he can do to help. I don’t think he’s ever said, ‘I can’t do anything.’ He’s a very good representative who comes to everything that we have in this town.”
Through their working relationship over the years, Holby said one thing has become evident to her: “Frank clears the way to get that money. He knows the people to talk to. Frank goes to bat for the small guy. And that’s us.”
###