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Myerstown Borough Council voted on July 9 to approve settlement documents related to PennDOT’s right-of-way purchase in the Recreation Area near the Route 501 bridge over the Tulpehocken Creek.
PennDOT will acquire .16 acres of land as a temporary construction easement and .033 acres of land as a permanent easement for the bridge project.
In exchange for the right-of-way, which is needed for highway easement purposes and to install wing walls as part of the project, PennDOT is offering about $1,000 for the temporary construction easement and $3,600 for the permanent easement, for a total of $4,600, as well as covering engineering and legal costs associated with the project.
The temporary construction easement is expected to end within six months of the start date, which has not yet been set. The detour route has also not been established, but most tractor-trailers are expected to follow the detour route and stay on state roads rather than venturing onto municipal roads due to weight limits and similar logistics.
There are sewer lines buried 10 feet below ground in the area of the temporary construction easement. Fortunately, no sewer lines run through the area of the permanent easement. No active digging is anticipated at the site, and there will be safeguards to protect the sewer lines in the temporary construction easement area, including physically marking the lines and providing PennDOT with an accurate drawing of where the lines run.
If the council had not approved the settlement documents, PennDOT had indicated they would file an eminent domain proceeding against the borough.
In more seasonal news, Myerstown Borough Council voted to approve an event request from the Myerstown Community Pool to host a luau for season passholders on Friday, July 12, from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
The pool party will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with the first 250 of this year’s almost 600 season passholders who get to the pool Friday shown appreciation through free admission, a more intimate atmosphere than the pool’s usual 350-person capacity, and treats for sale at the concession stand.
The council also voted to approve the reduction of season pass rates by 50%, effective Monday, July 15. This decision was made in an attempt to increase sales as the pool season will be officially halfway over when it goes into effect.
Council also voted to approve a request from the Rec Board to host small pop-up events, such as games of HORSE on the basketball courts and gaga ball in the gaga pits, with the condition that children bring waivers signed by their guardians.
The council determined that their current insurance plan will cover these small events as long as a member of the borough or the Rec Board is present. All members of the Rec Board have current child clearances.
In other news, council:
- Approved the June 11 meeting minutes.
- Heard public comment from Bob Jones, who lives on the 100 block of North College Street, about the next-door property. Specifically that the owner is away, the trash has not been emptied for eight weeks, and the milkweed growing on the property is as tall as him, Jones said, adding that this has been a recurrent issue.
- Approved the payment of bills submitted by the treasurer, which included a spike in government administration overtime hours (about 5 to 10 hours per week) due to the operation of the pool.
- Approved the June 2024 treasurer’s report and had it placed on file for audit.
- Reviewed reports from Myerstown Vitality Partnership, Myerstown Water Authority, and the Rec Board.
- Approved the mayor’s report, the code enforcement and zoning report, solicitor’s report, wastewater report, public works report, and manager’s report.
- Announced six board and commission vacancies. Those who are interested can contact the Myerstown Community Center Borough Office.
- Approved the mail delivery and post box assignments to tenants at 101 S. Railroad St., with the suite numbers corresponding to the numbers inside the doors of the apartments, which are leftover from the time when the building was used as a high school and later as an elementary school. Several organizations have also claimed specific suite numbers.
Read More: Myerstown Vitality Partnership and Myerstown Borough seek developer for input on community center
- Discussed their recent meeting with the Rec Board from Jackson Township, in which four of the five members were present, regarding the possibility of an agreement between the borough and township. The agreement, projected to be between $10,000 and $20,000, would allow Jackson Township residents, many of whom consider themselves to be Myerstown residents, to enjoy the same resident rate at the pool, with more benefits opening up to the township with the contribution of more funds. The borough pitched a $35,000 agreement to Jackson Township years ago that was ultimately rejected.
Myerstown Borough Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Myerstown Community Center at 101 S. Railroad St.
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