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Myerstown Borough Council furthered plans for several street projects at its meeting Tuesday.
They unanimously approved a resolution authorizing application to a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for a street improvement project on West Jefferson and East Washington avenues.
The grant has a maximum payout of $100,500, but the borough is requesting less, borough manager Michael McKenna said. He said they are requesting an amount to cover the entire project minus engineering costs.
Only projects benefiting low- to moderate-income areas can be selected for CDBGs, which is why the above avenues were selected, McKenna said.
Council also discussed ARPA funds. After the installation of two tennis courts this and next year, the borough has $115,000 left.
While the borough was aware plans for funds needed to be made by the end of the year, council only recently learned that contracts need to be entered into before 2025.
As a result, the borough opted to use the remainder of the funds to improve alleys. Council unanimously agreed to approve a list of alleys to be prepared for bidding, lest the borough lose its ARPA balance.
Council also unanimously agreed to issue formal notices to property owners on the 700 and 800 blocks of South Railroad Street to construct or repair curbing. Property owners on the 700 block will also be required to construct or repair sidewalks along their property.
Solicitor Amy Leonard said boroughs have the right to direct residents to fix curbing and install sidewalks at their own expense. She added that while the borough code only requires property owners be given 30 days, Myerstown plans to give residents a year.
Council members unanimously agreed to advertise an amendment to the Sidewalk and Street Ordinance. Leonard described the amendment as an “update to reflect current procedures.”
In other news, council unanimously:
- Agreed to pay Construction Masters Services LLC $136,524.74 for the 2024 road project. Public works supervisor David Fake described their worksmanship as “excellent.”
- Agreed to pay Russel Standard Corp. $20,260.10 for its work for the 2024 road project.
- Agreed to approve MMO contributions for 2025.
- Approved event requests including the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 and several events at the Isaac Meier Homestead.
- Approved rental requests at the standard rate and granted the Recreation Board the ability to use a classroom for free until it is rented out.
- Agreed to allow Mission Church to replace the carpet of its room of the community center, at the church’s expense.
- Approved minutes and heard reports.
Myerstown Borough Council meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Myerstown Community Center, 101 S. Railroad St. Meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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