Burns: $203,848 to East Taylor for playgrounds, fixing electric hazard
‘Without him we would not have been able to pull this off for the township’
Rep. Frank Burns August 3, 2026 | 12:36 PM
JOHNSTOWN, Aug. 3 – Significant playground rehabilitations and a sorely needed municipal building electrical system upgrade are coming to East Taylor Township, from state Rep. Frank Burns’ guiding hand in securing separate state grants of $130,848 and $73,000.
“Without Frank we would not have been able to pull this off for the township. He’s been amazing to work with,” said Rick Price, East Taylor supervisor chairman and roadmaster. “With his help, it makes it easier to get these grants accomplished. He gets what the municipalities need – he takes the time to sit down and assist them in meeting their goals.”
Price said Mineral Point is basically getting a new playground complex, as heaved up and unplayable basketball and tennis court blacktop will give way to four new pickleball courts, a new basketball court, a new merry-go-round, and new chain link fencing.
The Mineral Point and Dormer Street playgrounds are also getting rubber mulch for the first time, along with new swings and picnic tables, Price said, noting that the other grant will fund a substantial electrical system upgrade to bring the township’s municipal building up to code.
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“Without Frank we would not have been able to pull this off for the township. He’s been amazing to work with.” – Rick Price, East Taylor supervisor chairman and roadmaster.
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Price said the building, a converted bus garage, currently uses “very outdated and unsafe” twist-tube breakers that are all on one circuit – an electrical feed system that dates to the 1980s. He said the upgrade will put the police department, road department and township supervisors’ area on separate feeds, and bring electrical service to an adjacent pole building that currently lacks it.
“It’s not actually feasible for us to do it on our own, because there’s no way the township could afford to do all this. We would have to raise taxes to do it,” Price said. “I’ve known Frank for a very long time. It’s an honor to work with him and have him as a state representative for our township.”
As he does throughout his district, Burns said he met with Price to discuss the township’s priorities, then worked through a strategy to determine which grant sources were best suited to meet those needs.
“It’s those types of relationships and that level of communication that allow us to be successful,” Burns said. “Working together, we strategize on the best way to maximize funding successes.”
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