Sep 9, 2014 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Borough Council awarded contracts Tuesday for repaving sections of South Market Street and Spruce Alley.

For several months, council discussed the poor condition of roads in the borough. Last month, it agreed to seek bids to repave some of the worst areas.

The borough intends to repave South Market Street, between the town square and East South Street, and Spruce Alley, between George Street and Greene Street.

The borough also sought bids for repaving a portion of Greene Street, between Route 88 and North Market Street, but agreed to rebid the work after the two contractors that submitted proposals presented different measurements.

The borough had solicited proposals from four or five contractors, said Brandi Streit, borough secretary. It received proposals from two contractors.

A.C. Moyer Co. of Lemont Furnace was awarded the contracts, submitting the low bid for each of the streets. The company’s bids were $11,172 for South Market Street and $5,130 for Spruce Alley.

The borough intends to use its Act 13 natural gas drilling impact fee revenue for the projects. It has saved all but $2,000 of the Act 13 money it has received in the last three years and now has $50,632 in Act 13 funds.

“This will be a great use for our Act 13 money,” councilman Mike Dohanich said. “We’ll fix two of the three worst roads in the borough.”

Mayor David Jack also asked whether the borough had any way to keep heavy trucks off borough roads. The trucks not only damage the roads but often travel too fast creating a safety hazard to residents, he said.

Police Chief Mike Gyurke suggested the borough have the roads bonded, requiring trucking companies to enter agreements with the borough to repair any damage caused by their use of the roads.

The borough also has an ordinance prohibiting large trucks on borough roads; however, the ordinance is so old, the fine for a violation is only $10, he said. He suggested council update the ordinance.

Council last month had discussed who is responsible for repairing sidewalks and whether grant money is available to help replace sidewalks in the borough.

Streit reported she contacted a person in Harrisburg and was informed the borough code makes the homeowner responsible for maintaining the sidewalk.

Council briefly discussed seeking grants for sidewalks. Councilwoman Marianne Gideon said she talked to representatives of Rices Landing and Greensboro boroughs but didn’t believe grants they had received were applicable to Carmichaels.

Streit also reported she met with Robbie Matesic, director of the county Department of Economic Development, and Matesic informed her a woman in her office could assist the borough in applying for grants.

Dohanich thanked borough employees for the extra work they did to assist with the coal show last month.

Streit thanked the National Guard which helped the borough with road closings during the coal show parade.

She also reported a 9-11 service will be held in town square at 8:46 a.m. Thursday, and that the covered bridge festival is scheduled for Sept. 20 and 21 at the Carmichaels Covered Bridge.

Carmichaels homecoming parade will be held at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 3 and the annual Pigs in a Blanket Festival will be held in town square Oct. 4. This year, the festival is sponsored by the American Legion.

The police department also will hold a drug take back event, in which people can dispose of unwanted drugs, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in the borough building.