Burns: $68,998 backhoe to replace hand-shoveling in Daisytown
State grant to save borough worker time, money
Rep. Frank Burns March 5, 2026 | 9:41 AM
JOHNSTOWN, March 5 – Daisytown Borough’s workers will no longer have to shovel gravel by hand, or pay to have its salt trucks loaded in winter – thanks to a $68,998 backhoe coming its way through a state grant delivered by state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria.
The piece of labor-saving machinery will be a big time- and money-saver, according to Christa Kichler, Daisytown’s administrative secretary, noting that arduous shoveling on a variety of projects won’t be required, and the borough will save money by not having to pay a contractor to use their machinery to load the trucks.
“Last year, we were doing work at the playground and we had to shovel everything by hand. It took us two-and-a-half days to get all of the work done,” Kichler said. “Having this piece of equipment will make our lives easier, for sure – it will help us out, 100 percent.”
Kichler’s husband James Kichler Jr., Daisytown Borough’s council president, said the backhoe will also aid in a stop sign replacement project, eliminating any need to remove those by hand, and its digging and earth-moving ability will also speed drainage repairs.
“Right now, with stop sign removal, we’re trying to get them up to state codes. This backhoe will help pull them out,” James Kichler said. ““And we can load our own salt (trucks), saving about $1,200 a year. It will also help us clean up a little better, relocating and pushing back the mounds of snow. And it will help with doing drainage cleanouts.”
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“Frank’s a good guy. He tries to help us if he can.” – Christa Kichler, Daisytown Borough administrative secretary
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Regarding his role, Burns said: “When I saw that they applied, I knew that they don’t ask for a lot, but since they did, we’ve got to help them. They’re a small borough that doesn’t ask for a whole lot.”
Christa Kichler said the borough has fewer than 300 people, and work is currently done by two maintenance employees often aided by council members who voluntarily chip in. She said the grant success was aided by Burns’ involvement, which was appreciated because “there’s a whole lot of paperwork and steps you have to do. You don’t just snap your fingers and it’s done.
“Frank gave me a call, pretty close to the announcement,” said Christa Kichler. “They were still working on who was getting what, and he wanted to know how much this would help. I told him, and he said, ‘I’m going to do my best to get an excavator (backhoe), to help you out.’
“Frank’s a good guy. He tries to help us if he can.”
In 2023, Burns delivered an $85,000 state grant to Daisytown to purchase a dump truck, snowplow, and two salt spreaders.
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