Susquehanna bridge project delayed

Helen B. Foster

Correspondent

Members of Susquehanna Borough Council heard bad news concerning the Main Street Bridge work at its June 21 meeting.

According to Council President David Scales, a PennDot representative notified the borough the work on Main Street has been set back one year with the work to be completed in two and a half years.

A question on the cost of operating the numerous sets of traffic signals necessary prior to and while the bridge is being repaired was addressed. The information given to council by PennDot states the latest technology is being used in the recently installed traffic signals and the cost per month to the borough is less than the cost of the one traffic signal that has been in operation for years.

Council voted to join The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance which pertains to economic and community development activities. The NEPA focus at the present time is to implement energy savings for municipalities.

The regular borough traffic signal will be changed to meet the energy saving standards.

West Main Street resident Tim Edwards brought to council’s attention a dispute he is having over property lines and also a complaint he has concerning others parking on the sidewalk.

He was told the sidewalk parking is a codes issue and will be handled by Codes Enforcement Officer Mary Weaver.

His property line issue, however, is not under borough codes.

Michael Whitmore of Washington Street also brought a complaint concerning neighbors before council. This was also turned over to Weaver.

With Mayor Michael Matis on vacation, Scales reported the borough’s police officers had been to the Canawacta Rod and Gun Club to qualify in fire arms. The fire arms instructor recommended the local police force qualify twice a year, a daytime qualification and also a nighttime one.

Secretary Samantha Lawson reported she has started municipal secretary training and said she has gained knowledge on her role as borough secretary.

She will continue this training as she reorganizes the office files along with her other duties.

Lawson reported the Grand Street sidewalk project looks good and is under budget. Her work with Trehab will be over at the end of the month, she told council.

Todd Glover from Lanesboro council spoke to the board concerning a Tri-Boro Community Yard Sale scheduled for August 12-14. He will also be approaching Oakland council on this matter.

The cost to the municipalities will be for advertising which Glover hope will reach beyond the county.

At the June 7 council committee meeting members voted to hire Derek Williams and Robert Skiba for eight weeks of summer work, 20 hours a week with the streets department.

Following an executive session, council also hired Ken Travis for 20 hours a week for parks maintenance with Damon Sisler as back-up.

Bill Malos from Pennsylvania American Water Company presented PAWC’s plan to put a water storage tank on four acres of land on Washington Street that PAW purchased.

According to Malos, the tank will be either welded steel or concrete and construction will take about three months.

PAWC is requesting a ‘right of way passage’ from the borough and showed a map of what PAWC would need for the easement.

Council members questioned if the road would be gravel or paved and also wanted to know the route the trucks involved would travel.

Malos told council he will be coming to them at least once a month to update them on the progress of the project.