LEWISTOWN - The Lewistown Borough Council took around 20 minutes to consider writing ordinances in relation to the sewage systems at its monthly meeting on Tuesday.
The board approved a motion to draft an ordinance to increase and create tapping fees. The new increase is to $2000.
When the board started to discuss sewage rates, a few council members were not happy, Larry Searer and John Adams in particular.
Searer said he was against having to raise the rates and wanted money to come from other sources. Adams said that, as a homeowner, having to come up with the money to pay ever-rising bills, is increasingly difficult and implored the board not to raise the sewer rates.
Russ Rager, council vice president, explained that there was no choice but to raise the rates so the borough can pay the bills. Rager said the borough cannot obtain the money from anywhere else.
The increase in question would raise rates 15 percent. Connie Lucas, borough manager, explained that the increase would be on average $15 a quarter, or $60 per household per year. The council said was not happy with the idea of raising sewage rates but ultimately said there was no choice.
The vote was not unanimous but a motion to draft an ordinance to increase sewage rates passed.
The board approved these motions to draft ordinances which means the ordinance have not happened yet and they will discuss the idea of making them actual ordinances at a future meeting.
Mayor Deb Bargo wanted to publicly thank the efforts of Lewistown Police Department Officer William Roberts with his involvement in the arrest of a stolen pickup that occurred in late October. Bargo said she is very proud of LPD's officers.
The board approved a motion to suspend tickets from Nov. 19 to April 1 on all roads except Chestnut Street, Five Points to Logan Street, Market Street, Juniata Street to Five Points, Valley Street, Five Points to Third Street, Academy Hill and Tire Lane, with a vote against from Matt Moore.
In other business, the council:
Approved the schedule of bills.
Approved the financial report.
Approved to accept the tax collector report
Approved the report of parking violations, police citations and fines.
Approved a motion to move forward with Ordinance 2012-9, Mutual Aid Agreement with a vote against from Larry Searer.
Approved the Wastewater Treatment Plan Nutrient Reduction Upgrade Project, monthly contractor requests for payments.
Approved signing a Waiver of Conflict because of concurrent representation by Eckert Seamans of Lewistown Borough and MCRPD.
Approved 2010 CDBG sub-recipient agreement with Mifflin Juniata Dental Clinic for allocation of $8,272 for equipment purchases.
Approved suspension of citations for no parking/overnight parking regulations for holiday/winter periods from Nov. 19 to March 31.
Authorized for the president/vice president and secretary to execute the 2012 CDBG Grant Agreement and the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Sub-recipient Data Sheet for the CDBG grant with DCED.
Approved Resolution 2012-31: Review of the arrangement letter to consider appointing Boyer and Ritter as auditors for the regular municipal audit for 2012.
Approved closing borough offices on Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, giving borough employees the option of working or taking a vacation day.
Approved facility use request for Festival of Ice, Kiwanis Pancake Festival on Dec. 1, Kiwanis Christmas Parade on Nov. 30 and for Stephen Dalton to sell Christmas trees on S. Main Street.
Approved an agreement with the Mifflin County Planning and Development Department.
Approved a request for a refund of Borough Tax in the amount of $172.36 to Jeffrey N. Millhouse, Parcel No. 01-07-116 for a portion of the 2012 tax year, due to property being owned previously by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.
Moving forward with consideration of installing new wiring for the computer systems $6,736 (General Borough $2,237.03, Refuse $1690.06, WCS $1690.06, WWTP $1,118.85)
Approved a request from Rodney Hobbs to be paid for 144 vacation hours, which is more than the allowed six weeks of carryover time.
Approved a request for incentive time for Mike Dippery for two and a half hours for high flow conditions during the recent storm.
Approved sewer exoneration request for the Rec Park pool due to water being used to fill the pool and not entering the sewer system.
Approved sewer exoneration request for Thomas Baker due to watering of new plants and a leaky outside faucet and water not entering the sewer system.
Lewistown Borough Council normally meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Lewistown Municipal Building, in Lewistown.
