KANE — In order to get some major paving projects done sooner in 2017, Kane Borough Council approved seeking a loan of up to $500,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank (PIB).
However, which streets are to be paved remains in question.
PIB is a program that “provides low-interest loans to help fund transportation projects within the Commonwealth. The goal of the PIB is to leverage state and federal funds, accelerate priority transportation projects, spur economic development and assist local governments with their transportation needs,” according to an explanation on the PennDOT website.
The interest rate cited in the ordinance is 1.625 percent. The current interest rate PIB offers is at 1.75 percent.
According to a payback schedule data sheet provided by the borough, Kane currently has $72,000 budgeted through a street improvement tax and another $57,600 in liquid fuels money available for street improvement. The schedule indicates the borough would have annual payments on the $500,000 principal to be paid back at a rate of $104,184 per year from 2018 through 2021, with a final payment of $103,274 to be paid in 2022. Over the five year period, the interest Kane will pay on the loan is projected to be $20,926.
Borough Manager Don Payne said the borough received $116,000 in liquid fuels money this year.
Borough officials still haven’t decided which streets would be on the short list to get paved. Councilman Tom Kase cautioned Payne and the public works committee to choose the streets they pave in 2017 wisely, as it will be five years before any more major paving projects will be able to take place.
Payne reminded Kase the borough does not have to use the entire $500,000, noting any remaining funds would be returned to the state without any further obligation. However, Kase does not think there will be any money left over from the project.
Payne said the borough will submit the final paperwork to the state after the streets are selected. He said the borough can pull the money out of the account anytime in 2017, with the borough submitting monthly statements to Harrisburg.
The motion passed unanimously.
In other news, Councilman John Gentilman requested an ordinance be drafted to require all keyholders on alarm systems which dial 911 to be present at the property where an alarm is triggered.
Kane Borough Police Chief Heath Boyer believes the move would be a good one, but only required for businesses. Boyer also believes maintaining a list of keyholders should fall to the alarm company and not the police department.
Councilman David Walker disagreed with the measure, saying, “it’s their business, not our business” as borough council to regulate who shows up at a business to meet with police after an alarm has sounded. Payne disagreed with Walker, saying it is the borough’s business as soon as the borough police department has been notified.
Boyer added if the keyholder is not present, police cannot enter the building to investigate. Walker then suggested to “give some teeth” to the ordinance, requiring fines for keyholders who do not show up when notified.
Borough solicitor Tony Alfieri suggested council hold off on implementing an ordinance until he can check on a state law which may give the police department more leverage in having a keyholder present at an alarm.
The motion passed to look into creating an ordinance requiring keyholders for businesses to show up at an alarm, pending Alfieri’s research into the state law.
The next council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 13.
