Mahanoy City receives Governor’s Award for responding to adversity
MAHANOY CITY – This borough was recognized in the 27th Annual Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence, the state announced Wednesday.
The borough was among 15 communities, five organizations, and eight individuals from across the commonwealth were recognized for excellent service.
“Few places have faced tough times and moved forward like the borough of Mahanoy City,” Kelly Robertson, Executive Director of the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, said as she presented the Responding to Adversity Award to John Fatula, borough manager. “The Anthracite mining industry has gone through so many demographic changes over the years that by 2015, the borough of Mahanoy City found itself in a position where it needed to file for Act 47.”
Act 47 provides support to financially distressed municipalities. Locally, both Shamokin and Hazleton are in Act 47 status.
“The borough defied all odds placed against them by following through with the recovery plan, making many cost-saving changes to its government,” Robertson added, noting that the changes brought the borough out of its distressed status.
Mahanoy City became the second municipality in northern Schuylkill County to enter Act 47 and recover to exit the program. Shenandoah was one of the first municipalities in the program, which began in 1987, entering in May of 1988 and was also one of the first to exit, leaving in 1993.
Mahanoy City was the only award recipient from Schuylkill County. No award recipients were from Northumberland, Columbia, or Luzerne Counties.
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