LEWIS RUN — Lewis Run Borough Council voted in favor of ordering a new garbage truck and commercial packer on Tuesday evening.
Council members discussed the decisions for several minutes before casting votes.
Borough officials were planning to pay for the garbage truck, a 2018 Mack truck, outright with funds from the refuse department, thereby avoiding paying interest. The truck won’t be ready until fall, so there will be a few months to save up more money — about $5,000 a month from garbage pick-up — before making the purchase.
Councilman Jim Coldren wondered if it would be better to take out a loan rather than depleting the refuse account.
Secretary/treasurer Joanne Caldwell noted, “There’s not a whole lot you can spend that money on,” as it has to be used for refuse-related expenses.
After a few minutes of talking, Coldren agreed, “I’m happy with that,” and voting took place on the garbage truck, which is expected to cost $108,535. In a separate vote, council announced the anticipated cost of the packer is $65,550.
Meanwhile, members agreed that, due to a couple of unexpected expenses, the planned purchase of a second general purpose truck has been tabled.
A resident asked why the borough needed a second truck after having only one for more than 100 years.
Councilman Steve Kloss explained it’s necessary “when borough employees have to use their own trucks to conduct borough business.” He noted that sometimes three people are working in one truck at once. “There is a need.”
However, Caldwell said the Lincoln Street Bridge is in worse shape than they realized, so the project will be more expensive than anticipated. Further, Gov. Tom Golf has unveiled a potential state budget that could cost the borough $15,000 because it does not have local police coverage.
In other news, Kloss announced the borough will need a new tax collector for 2018.
Caldwell explained candidates will need to file a nominating petition with 10 signatures, and people running for the first time must have their criminal background check in hand at that time.
The last day to file a petition will be March 7.
Kloss reminded borough residents to order reflective address signs. No specific deadline date was given, but he said officials are hopeful all residents will have their signs up by spring.
Also, Kloss said the borough has applied for $70,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding; residents interested in the housing rehabilitation grant program should come forward.
Swartz talked about new pipeline that he learned will be installed in Lewis Run, going along South Avenue, down Evans Drive, to Church Street then down Main Street to the bridge. The project will be done this summer, before that end of the Main Street is repaved.
A couple of residents had questions for the council members on Tuesday.
One wondered who decides when the snow on the roads needs plowed, saying there were times the roads were “horrible.”
“Me,” responded Kloss. “I’m in charge of the roads.”
Council President Irv Swartz noted that one time the snow in the roads was bad because the plow was stuck.
Kloss explained he will contact the plow truck drivers when they are needed, but they do not live in the borough. He added there was one weekend he was out of town, which may have accounted for a delay in plowing. He advised the resident to call him if he feels the roads are getting bad.
Another resident wondered about a letter he received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicating his property was now considered to be in a flood zone.
Coldren said he had also gotten a letter and now had to purchase flood insurance. He noted that the designation could be challenged, but residents had to purchase flood insurance first.
Swartz added that he’d talked to Sandy Thompson, the McKean County Conservation District manager, and Thompson will be coming in the spring to see what they can do to protect the borough from flooding.
Towards the end of the meeting, Swartz had everybody take a moment of silence on honor of former council member Kathy Hamric. “We’ll miss her,” he said.
Hamric died Friday at Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital.
