LEWIS RUN — Among the topics at Tuesday evening’s Lewis Run Borough Council meeting was the possibility of purchasing a second truck for borough employees to use.
It was while council members discussed issues related to keep the winter roads clear that council president Irv Swartz brought up the fact that there was only one truck. As salt is used on some roads and dirt on others to melt ice, one has to be unloaded every time employees switched to the other.
Secretary/treasurer Joanne Caldwell mentioned another road issue that was amended, saying that at one point the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) bus driver refused to drive down one road because it was not cleared early enough for the pick-up, but when she was alerted to the issue, she had the plow driver start coming in a little earlier to make sure the road was clear on time.
In reference to the switching the salt and dirt on the truck, Councilwoman Dianna DeCasper said, “This is why we need another truck.”
Swartz agreed, noting the single truck caused issues in the summer, too, such as when the truck was needed for road tar at the same time as it was needed for a water department task. He had to remind employees at that time that he didn’t want them to use their personal vehicles — putting wear on them — for township purposes.
Caldwell added that multiple snowfalls have happened on Fridays this winter, and employees would have to stop taking care of the road for the Friday garbage pick-up.
Councilman James Coldren said he was against purchasing a second truck. “We’ve survived for decades with only one truck,” he said.
Swartz suggested tabling the discussion of the new truck, and Councilman Steve Kloss asked council members to think about it so they could talk about it at the next meeting.
In the meantime, Kloss said he would look into purchasing a truck. The borough has budgeted $17,000 for the purpose, he said.
Council also appointed Caldwell to continue as the borough’s secretary/treasurer and Julie Meyer as the assistant secretary/treasurer.
Borough officials also talked about two future projects — rehabilitation of the east end of Main Street and work on the heating system of the borough building.
Kloss said a meeting was held Monday about the upcoming Main Street rehab.
Swartz said they will now be applying for funding for the project. “We just have to wait and see,” he said, noting that it will likely be August before they know what funding they will receive.
Caldwell said the project will likely go out to bid early in the spring of 2018, with construction starting in the summer of 2018. “Chris (Ernst) said it looks like a three-month project.”
Kloss noted the borough will probably have to patch a few holes this spring in the project area.
Regarding a borough building project, council voted in favor of paying a cost not to exceed $2,000 to add baseboard heating to the kitchen and back area of the office, as well as to get rid of the radiant heating in those areas.
Kloss explained the floor has been dropping in some areas, and issues with the system have caused water to pool on the floor.
“We didn’t have heat for two days last week,” Caldwell noted.
In other news, DeCasper announced that the Italian American Progressive Club has donated $2,700 for the borough’s playground. She presented the check and said the money would be used for new turf.
