Story by Rick Hiduk/Satellite Image by Google
(Also published in the Rocket-Courier)
Laceyville Borough Council announced on Tuesday evening that abandoned vehicles in the borough parking lot behind the fire station (above) have been marked for towing. Warnings have been posted on the targeted cars and trucks, and Laceyville police officer Kevin Costello has talked to several of the owners. “These vehicles are not operable and have been there for a number of months,” he stated. Towing could begin as early as this morning.
The council is pursuing two options for a new shed to be placed between the borough building and the pavilion. A shed left in Donovan Park by the Roosevelt Trail League (RTL) has been deemed reusable after some minor repairs and could be moved into town. Council member Kristy Fassett also brought specs to the table for a new 10-by-12-foot shed that could be used by both the borough and the water company, with the water company picking up 75 percent of the $3,500 tab.
Both would be a good start toward consolidating what little equipment and signage the borough owns, council agreed. Council president Randy Brigham expressed a reluctance to spend any money that is not already earmarked in the borough’s budget, noting that hazard signs and cones recently purchased to denote flooded ares in town had cost of $1,200. “Purchasing them at the time was way more important than wondering where to store them,” he stated. They are currently against the board room wall and in the restroom of the borough building.
On the topic of storms, Brigham noted that Laceyville fared better during the last round of heavy rains than the borough had during previous downpours. An estimate of $3,000 in damages was presented to county officials in the county’s efforts to achieve a disaster declaration. “We did not have much because we jumped on it real quick,” Brigham said of the relatively low total.
The borough will soon advertise for and solicit snow removal bids and intends to adopt some procedures to prevent what Brigham referred to as repetitious plowing. Acknowledging that every storm is different and that borough streets need to be cleared in a timely manner, Brigham feels that companies previously contracted with the borough have needlessly run their plows too frequently, costing the borough more money than what was budgeted. “We’re going to be spending $20,000 for just two miles of roads,” he related. “We need to trim that back a bit.”
The review of a 2017 resolution adopting PennDOT’s assessment of area roadways and their assignment to the state, borough or private citizens sparked a lengthy discussion that didn’t necessarily result in a conclusion. It was determined that Orchard Terrace Lane, Washout Lane, and Dolly Lane are in fact privately owned and should not be plowed as part of the borough’s contract – in short because they do not generate liquid fuels funds. While council did not agree that the roads would not be plowed, Brigham suggested that the topic be revisited.
Water and sewer manager Jaye Butler announced that hydrants will be flushed over the next two weeks. Residents and business owners may notice some loss of pressure or temporary discoloration of the water. The borough is also working with their attorney to place liens on properties that are still delinquent with their water and sewer payments.
On a final note, council was unanimous in their determination that gas-related companies are once again running heavy trucks on Main Street despite ordinances and signage intended to prevent it. “I am of the personal belief that there should be no trucks in the borough unless they are doing deliveries,” said council member Henry Laboranti. “We just don’t have the roads to support truck traffic.”