Burns delivers $26,138 for Blacklick Twp. street sweeper

‘Frank seems to be able to come through for us’

EBENSBURG, Oct. 4 – Blacklick Township road flooding will be addressed and a significant cost savings realized from recouping winter antiskid material, due to a $26,138 grant obtained by state Rep. Frank Burns to purchase a street sweeper attachment.

Burns, D-Cambria, was hands-down the driving force responsible for obtaining the state grant, according to Blacklick Township Supervisor Beverly Sherwood Burns, who is no relation to the state representative.

“Frank seems to be able to come through for us. When we ask for something, when we put in for a need, Frank goes to bat for us and tries to help us as much as he can,” Sherwood Burns said. “We get a lot of road flooding here, so the sweeper is going to get all the fill back into the berms. Also, in the springtime, from us plowing and putting antiskid down, we’ll be able to recoup that and reuse it, and that saves us a lot of money.

“Frank Burns was instrumental in getting the grant. We’ve tried putting grant applications in without contacting him, and we’ve been unsuccessful. It seems that Frank’s able to come through for us, and we have better success obtaining our grants when he’s involved.”

Sherwood Burns added, “I’m glad that he’s our voice in Harrisburg. He works for us and he has seniority.”

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“Frank Burns was instrumental in getting the grant. We’ve tried putting grant applications in without contacting him, and we’ve been unsuccessful. It seems that Frank’s able to come through for us, and we have better success obtaining our grants when he’s involved.” – Bev Sherwood Burns, Blacklick Township supervisor.

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Burns said he’s glad that the truth about his role in obtaining state funding is consistently being documented by Sherwood Burns and other grant recipients, debunking attempts to cast doubt on how successful he’s been in that crucial area.

“I’m always there for – and willing to go to the mat in Harrisburg for – the people I represent,” Burns said. “State funding doesn’t just fall from a tree onto Blacklick Township or anywhere else, and grant checks aren’t automatically delivered as an act of bureaucratic generosity.

“I’m in the arena, making sure people apply, supporting and shepherding grant applications through the process, bending ears and twisting arms, leveraging my seniority and clout. And, when needed, crossing swords with powerful players to make sure we get our fair share.”