Water pressures increasing in Susquehanna

BY STACI WILSON

Pennsylvania American Water Company’s Bill Malos told Susquehanna Borough Council at the Wednesday, April 9 meeting, that the water tank was filled with water and should be in service this week – but not at full capacity.
Malos said residents in low pressure areas will begin seeing better water pressure.

Those pressures will be gradually increased through mid- to late-May with final improvements made to the system in mid-June.

Malos said homes in need of regulators have been identified and installations will be made where they need to be to make sure there are “none out there that can’t handle the higher pressure.”

The borough’s public works employees, along with Councilman Roy Williams, planed to meet with Malos last week to go over the restoration work to be done at the water tower area. The upper parking lot will be paved, and the lower parking lot will be “dressed up.”

Malos said the company set aside funds for restoration last year.

One borough resident questioned why he could not get the condemnation order lifted on his property, although council said they were limited in what they could tell him because the issue was in litigation.

When borough solicitor Michael Briechle arrived at the meeting, he attempted to answer some of the questions from the resident.

Codes issues dominated the meeting, with another resident questioning his condemnation.

Williams told the man that he needed to have mold testing completed on the building; and then, if needed, remediated.

Williams said that once those steps were followed, the building owner could move forward.

The fire department sent a letter to the borough, offering to renew the contract at the current millage through 2016. Any changes associated with the tax would be only those stemming from a change in assessment values.

Council approved the purchase of a 2002 Ford Ranger and a small bucket for the backhoe.

The solicitor reviewed some proposed changes with the council regarding the updating of ordinances, including the rental ordinance.

Briechle suggested the fines associated with the ordinances were outdated – at $25 for non-compliance.

Council also discussed the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and moved to advertise for the adoption of the ordinance.

Before advertising, council had to establish certain points for the ordinance, including the maximum allowable height for weeds (6-inches), dates screens must be installed for open window or doors (May 1- Nov. 1); and for rental properties where heat is included, the heat must be kept at 68 degrees October – May.

Space heaters are not allowed to be used as the primary heating source in a rental unit.

Indoor work spaces must also be heated from October through May.

An estimate of $10,500 was received for the demolition of 873 West Main St. The work includes not only the demolition but also the backfill, seed and mulching of the property.

The Main St. construction project was slated to resume this week following a glitch that had to go back for design work. The project is still projected to be completed on schedule.