ST. MARYS — Hot button issues led to heated discussions during Monday’s St. Marys City Council meeting.

Resident John Schatz, a Cobblestone Hotel partner, insisted he along with others who met with U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Thompson’s representative this month be included in a meeting between Thompson’s representative and City Manager Tim Pearson scheduled for the next morning.

Schatz said they asked Thompson to help them to create a flood control project in downtown St. Marys, similar to one in Bellefonte. The area of town where the Cobblestone Hotel is located, as well as the section that housed the Stackpole Complex, often floods during severe weather. He said Thompson was enthusiastic about helping with a project since the Army Corp of Engineers is already working on area projects. Before he would commit to helping with a project, however, he wants to know the council is in favor of a project as well. Schatz said Thompson was also insistent that those at the meeting attend future meetings between the congressman and the city on this issue.

Pearson said the meeting with Thompson’s office was not a public meeting, but he would report back to the council about the meeting. He said he wanted to find out what the congressman had in mind and what options may be available.

The council said problems with flooding in that area have been going on since at least the 1930s, but the Department of Environmental Protection would not allow any work to be down in that section of the Elk Creek. The state is not doing any new flood control projects, Pearson said. The Army Corp of Engineers, however, has control of U.S. waterways so it is possible it could make it part of a larger project it is already working on.

The Straub Brewery is getting a $2 million face lift. Straub Brewery Vice President Vince Assetta said the visitors’ center/tap room will be upgraded. The gift shop will be included in the area and there will also be food available. The outside of the building will also be improved.

The council approved a certificate that will eliminate the Benzinger Township Hospital Authority. Solicitor Tom Wagner said the authority was needed when building projects were being done at the hospital (now known as Penn Highlands Elk), but now it is only being used to administer grant money. The hospital is able to do this on its own so the hospital asked, and the board agreed, for the authority to be terminated.

In other council news:

Mayor Bob Howard swore in new part-time St. Marys Police Officer Shawn Kronenwetter;

A non-coal surface mine at 208 Clay Road was tabled by a vote of 5-2;

A land development application for a sawmill building to be located at 153 Aviation Way for St. Marys Lumber was approved;

$7,000.20 in Liquid Fuels money was approved;

LERTA applications from Muccio School Transportation at 74 Ceramic St. for a bus garage and an industrial addition at 251 State St. for Keystone Powdered Metal were approved; and

Clean-up day will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the city garage.