LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven City Council approved a $2,500 donation to a local cat rescue to aid in its efforts to reduce the feral cat population within its limits.

Hope’s Dream Rescue, originally based in Centre County, has expanded its reach into Clinton County, according to volunteer and board member Catrina Armstrong.

“We get at this point about as many requests from Clinton County as we do Centre for placement and assistance,” Armstrong said.

She noted the non-profit often works closely with the Clinton County SPCA and its Trap and Release (TNR) voucher program as well.

Armstrong said the donation from the city would assist in the TNR program in Lock Haven along with other medical costs that can be necessary when caring for strays and feral cats.

“Any funding that would be brought into Hope’s would cover costs of TNR that are not currently covered by the vouchers,” she said. “That would include medical treatments, antibiotics, pest treatments and wound care.”

The request comes after, according to Armstrong, it was noted Lock Haven has a large cat population.

Councilmember Tami Brannan, who is a volunteer for the non-profit with her wife, said in 2024 she’s trapped 15 cats so far.

“I will say that personally since January I have trapped 15 cats in the city and had them TNRed through either the SPCA or Hope’s,” she said.

Brannan noted she’s also helped set up traps and reviewed the program with other members of the community, including fellow Councilmember Barb Masorti’s daughter.

Masorti said she is unsure how many cats her daughter has trapped for the program but did note she’s fostered many strays.

Masorti commended Hope’s and its volunteers for creating a network of individuals to assist with the large feral cat population.

“I think that’s one of the things that seems to be happening, a good network of people understanding and educating (others) on how to handle this problem,” she said.

Councilmember Steve Stevenson offered his support of the program, requesting the $2,500 funding be used strictly within the city limits.

“I would like to see results of course. So quarterly, if you could report to us how you’re doing and with that documentation is a budget and where you spent the money. So that we can track it too,” he said.

When motioning to donate $2,500 from the city’s discretionary funding, he added they could perhaps donate more after reviewing these results in the future.

“Going forward from today I was thinking (the city) gives them $2,500 to start and see results with catching and TNR and have them come back,” he said. “Then maybe we can bump it again until we find a track record. I think $2,500 is a good start.”

The motion was unanimously approved by all members of council.

In other business council:

— Approved a request by the Ross Library to have a banner hung across Main Street from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 to advertise its fall book sale.

— Approved a slew of annual requests from the Lock Haven Regatta Foundation for its annual Labor Day Regatta running from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3. This includes the closure of a portion of Water Street from its intersection with Jay Street to Washington Street along with the closure of Henderson Street from Water Street to Jordan’s Alley. The foundation also received approval for use of the Corman Amphitheatre during the event along with access to the Grant Street access area. Free parking on Aug. 31 within the city was also approved.

— Approved a request by Clinton County Pride Alliance and Pride in the Haven for use of Triangle Park on July 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. The event was rescheduled after bad weather resulted in a cancellation June 29.

— Accepted a bid from WYDE Excavation for patch work throughout the city on its streets for $95,034. City Manager Gregory Wilson said 150 patches must be completed on city streets and also in Castanea Township.

— Updated its Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement with PennDOT. City Planner Abbey Roberts said the request came via PennDOT and is related to upgrades to signals at the intersection of Second Avenue and Barton Streets. The upgrade will be funded through matching funds and a PennDOT Green Light Go grant.