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Myerstown Borough Council agreed to approve Ordinance 875 requiring Knox Boxes for certain properties at its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The ordinance requires Knox Boxes to be installed at commercial locations with sprinklers, as well as residential buildings where two or more apartments share a common entrance.
A Knox Box is a secure safe containing extra keys to a building for emergency responders to access in case of emergency.
Myerstown is served by Goodwill Fire and Keystone Hook and Ladder companies. Representatives of both companies advocated for the passage of the ordinance at Tuesday’s hearing.
Fire companies often reach the site of an emergency before the owner or key-holder gets there, at which point their options are to wait or break down the door. A Knox Box allows easier access, which also helps companies to avoid property damage in the case of false alarms.
Fire company representatives also noted that most surrounding municipalities have Knox Box ordinances already in place.
Opposed were council members Kathy Yang and Mark Kirsch.
In other news, council:
- Unanimously agreed to purchase security cameras for the Community Center and park security internet connection. Costs totaled around $4,170, with the borough having earned around $36,000 from the IU last year.
- Unanimously agreed to buy 250 tons of road salt for 2024-25 with the Co-Star Program.
- Unanimously agreed to updates to the employee handbook concerning abuse and misconduct prevention and the volunteering policy.
- Unanimously agreed to to adopt the Lebanon County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
- Unanimously agreed to contribute up to $200 toward the Lebanon County tire collection on May 1. Most years, the contribution is not used.
- Unanimously agreed to advertise for pool staff for the 2024 season.
- Unanimously approved facility requests including a Youth Only Fishing Event on April 13, Mission Church gymnasium Monday evenings March 4 through May 27, and more.
Myerstown Borough Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Myerstown Community Center at 101 South Railroad Street.
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