Aug 12, 2014 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Borough Council agreed Tuesday to ask a contractor to provide an estimate on the cost of repairing Market Street between town square and South Street.

The road surface in that area, which is about a block and half long, is in very poor condition, said Mayor David Jack.

Council discussed the condition of Market Street last month. It was mentioned that the borough might want to wait to do something with the road because Gabler’s Drug Store purchased the house next to the store and planned to install a drive-through window and a parking lot there.

Jack said Tuesday, however, he didn’t think the borough should wait to see what Gabler’s does before it paves the road. If the borough waits, he said, it may be too late to do the work this year.

Borough secretary Brandi Streit was asked to contact the contractor, A.C. Moyer Co., to seek an estimate and to find out the amount the borough can spend on such a project without having to seek bids.

The borough plans to use some of its Act 13 natural gas drilling impact fee revenue for the project.

In other business, council discussed who is responsible for repairing sidewalks and whether any grant money is available to help replace sidewalks in the borough.

A property owner requested information on replacing sidewalks. Police Chief Mike Gyurke said borough code books indicate the property owner is responsible for maintaining sidewalks.

Council President Charles Walker noted, however, most sidewalks are included in the rights of way for the roads, which he believed would make them the borough’s property if the sidewalk bordered a borough road or the state’s property if it bordered a state road.

Jack questioned how Greensboro and Rices Landing were able to get grants to replace sidewalks in their communities.

Streit was asked to contact the state to settle the matter regarding sidewalk ownership. She also was asked to contact Greensboro and Rices Landing and the county to determine if grant money is available for sidewalk replacement projects.

Councilman Ralph McWilliams said he received complaints about noise from people riding dirt bikes and an all-terrain vehicle in the borough. Gyurke said it is illegal to drive the vehicles on the roads and in regard to noise. If the vehicles are being driven in someone’s yard, it’s possible the rider could still be cited, provided someone is willing to testify against him before the district justice.

McWilliams said the borough might want to consider adopting an ordinance specifically addressing the problem.

Streit reported on activities in the borough regarding the Coal Show, which gets under way Saturday.

She noted the pet parade will be held Wednesday and the bike parade Thursday. Parade participants will gather at 5:45 p.m. at Yoskovich Funeral Home and the parade will start at 6 p.m., requiring closing of Market Street and town square.

The Coal Show parade is Saturday, Aug. 23. Residents are asked not to place chairs along the parade route until 8 a.m. the morning of the parade. No parking will be permitted on the parade route after 1 p.m. Vehicle parked along the route will be towed. Roads will be closed at 3:30 p.m. for the parade, which begins at 3:50 p.m.