Mar 11, 2014 4 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Borough Council Tuesday discussed a problem that comes up each year at this time, though this year it seems to have become much worse: potholes.

Brandi Streit, borough secretary, told council she has fielded a number of complaints from residents about potholes as well as about the cinders that are still on borough streets.

The borough’s sole street worker, Jim Petrone, tried to address the pothole problem, filling the holes with gravel and in some places using a patch material, she said.

Those materials, however, only stay put for a brief time and are usually scraped away the next time the borough has to plow snow from the roads.

And winter isn’t over, Streit said, noting the forecast today calls for the possibility of more snow.

Streit also pointed out the borough’s only truck still has a cinder box and spreader in the bed and so can’t be used right now to haul road materials or any cinders that Petrone might sweep from the street.

She asked borough residents to be patient. With more winter weather on the way and the truck still set up for winter, “there’s only so much we can do,” she said.

Petrone will be patching what potholes he can when weather permits, but the borough also may have to hire a contractor for some of the work, Streit said.

One resident asked whether the borough has a long-range plan to address the condition of borough roads.

Council president Charles Walker said the borough doesn’t have enough money in its budget to repave even one road, but it is trying to save its Act 13 drilling impact fee money for road repairs. Walker asked Petrone to prepare a list of the worst areas for potholes. He said the borough could then call contractors for quotes and possibly make the repairs. He also asked residents to report bad potholes to the borough.

Councilwoman Marianne Gideon, who is charge of grants, said she also would investigate whether there is grant money available for road repairs.

In a related matter, councilman Ralph McWilliams suggested the borough look into purchasing a compactor to help pack down the cold patch used to fill the potholes. Petrone said he would look into the costs.

In other business, council agreed to advertise for people interested in serving as borough auditors. No auditors were elected in the last election and council will fill the positions through appointments.

Streit asked any borough resident who wants to serve as an auditor to submit a letter of interest to her before the next meeting. Resident Ruth Enci asked council to inspect a ramp that was erected at a home on Market Street to ensure it was constructed in accordance with the required building codes.

Walker said the borough engineers, K-2 Engineers, would be asked to look into it.

Enci also mentioned the borough should apply for grants to repair sidewalks. Enci said several years ago she proposed that council participate in the state’s Safe Routes to School program that provided grants for sidewalk repairs. However, council never pursued a grant through the program, she said.

Police Chief Mike Gyurke said he believes the borough did look into the program but did not qualify for a grant.

Walker said the grant program was considered long before he and others started on council, but if grant money is available for sidewalks “that would be fantastic.”

Gideon said she would look into grants that could possibly be used for improvements and would contact Greensboro Borough which has been successful in obtaining grant money.

Asked about the status of Chris Watson’s dilapidated building on East George Street, Streit said Watson received a permit to rebuild the building from K2 in October. It gave him six months to begin the work.

If a substantial amount of work is not completed at the expiration of the six-month period, the permit will be revoked, she said.

Gyurke reported the borough will again participate in a drug take-back event on April 26. People who have prescription medicines they want to get rid of can bring them in and they will disposed of properly. McWilliams also asked Petrone to look at a storm drain on North Market Street at the covered bridge which is low and needs to be raised.