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The Jonestown Borough Council on March 4 continued its discussion regarding the downtown project and its cost concerns.
One part of the project includes curb bump-outs and curb extensions to the square and two surrounding intersections. The other part would extend the curb an extra five feet.
The curb bump-outs and extensions will cost around $1.4 million and will be partially covered by the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) program. The additional extension would cost about $450,000 and will be partially covered by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This brings the total project cost to approximately $1.9 million.
The borough received a grant of about $1.05 million for phase one and a grant of about $288,000 for phase two. If they decide to move forward with both parts of the project, the borough would be responsible for around $776,000, according to engineer John Poff.
Read More: Jonestown searches for more funds as curbing project becomes costlier
Poff said borough personnel and engineers met with Lebanon County transportation planner Jon Fitzkee to see if any additional funds are available for the borough.
“He recommended we’d get a detailed cost estimate for the extra work involved with the CDBG curbing project,” Poff said. “We gave that information to [Fitzkee] — he’s approaching his various contacts at PennDOT to see how much additional funding he can get us.”
He said Fitzkee recommended that the borough council write a letter supporting the project that can be passed along to PennDOT.
Council president Tom Keefer said they need to decide how much council would be comfortable paying.
“I feel if [Fitzkee] doesn’t come up with any money for us, I don’t feel comfortable with $776,000, which means maybe the CDBG project goes away and we just do the TASA,” Keefer said. “What I do feel comfortable with, if he comes up with, say half of that amount of money, we could come up with the other half.”
He said they have been “sticking money aside” and have a fair amount in the liquid fuels fund that could go toward meeting the shortfall.
“[Fitzkee] did say TASA projects have run short, and PennDOT has, at times, kicked in additional funding,” Poff said. “It’s in PennDOT’s interest in your case to kick in the funding because although it’s considered a local project, part of the project is on their state routes.”
The borough has already spent over $100,000 on engineering fees during the planning phases. Poff added it is rare for the borough to get this much grant money, so they should consider their options carefully before deciding whether to scrap the project.
“I see so few municipalities get this kind of money,” he said. “I don’t know that the borough’s ever gotten $1 million for anything, so my question becomes how do you walk away from that and not do anything? That’s something you people got to answer, but again, it’s not my decision. I don’t think the borough of Jonestown, particularly with what’s happening at the federal level, will see $1 million come their way again. Nobody gets full grants to do everything — there’s always skin in the game.”
There are also some right-of-way issues with the project area on Market Street, Poff said. There is a deed dispute, with PennDOT’s right-of-way drawings showing the right-of-way ends at the curb, but with the Jonestown layout saying property lines go all the way to the side of the roadway.
“There’s an approximately 8 to 10 foot of space that legally could still be owned by the gentleman that plotted off Jonestown Borough back in the 1700s, 1800s,” he said. “The space between the front of the buildings and the curb line is technically a no man’s land.”
He said they have a solution that would require PennDOT’s approval.
“In my opinion, the property owner should be compensated for that because I think there’s obviously an error, but we have to get PennDOT on board with that as well,” solicitor Colleen Gallo said. “There’s no sense in going down the survey road if we have to quiet title, and if we have to quiet title, that’s going to extend the project. It’s going to be miserable.”
Poff said the project would go out to bid in December 2026. Council has not decided whether or not to move forward with the project due to the high out-of-pocket price tag. They aim to have a better idea of the plan at next month’s meeting after hopefully getting more information from PennDOT.
Rotary Club Peace Pole approved
The board also voted 6-1 to allow the Rotary Club to put a “Peace Pole” in George H. Kaufman Park. Councilman Jeffrey Schott was the dissenting vote.
A Peace Pole is a monument with the message “May peace prevail on Earth” in multiple languages. According to May Peace Prevail on Earth International, they are recognized as the “most prominent international symbol and monument to peace.” The organization estimates there are around 250,000 Peace Poles around the world.
Elaine Ludwig, president of Northern Lebanon Rotary Club, attended the meeting to explain the project and answer questions from council.
“Rotary International has adopted peace and conflict resolution as one of their seven areas of focus, and rotaries all over the world are encouraged to promote peace through service projects and community outreach,” Ludwig said. “There are already signs in the Harrisburg and the York areas, and there are poles throughout our district as well, so my club is excited to be a part of this movement for Peace Poles.”
She said the club would be responsible for maintaining the pole once it’s planted, including covering any damage or vandalism.
Schott said his no vote was because his religious beliefs don’t align with the beliefs of May Peace Prevail On Earth International, which trademarked the phrase that is used on peace poles.
The mission statement on the website states, “Thought forms create an energetic field strong enough to empower the course of planetary destiny,” and “Words carry vibrations strong enough to inspire, heal, and transform the human heart as well as the kingdom of plants, animals, and all creation.”
“If you go to its website, it’s mission statement sounds nice until I put it in a religious context,” Schott said. “This, to me, is opposed to my belief in the nature of the Holy Spirit. Not to doubt the good intent and good will of local Rotarians, but I think at the higher level, I’m not certain this is all about peace for the sake of peace — it seems to me to be more of peace with an agenda.”
Schott asked for the entirety of his comments to be entered into the minutes.
Following the vote, Ludwig said there are some further approvals she’ll need to obtain, so the pole will not be installed until at least September.
In other business, council voted to approve the 2025-26 road salt contract for 100 tons. The borough has around 70 tons of salt saved after a recent delivery of 50 tons. Winters have been relatively sparse, but the borough has also shared salt with surrounding municipalities that ran out. Keefer said they don’t know the cost per ton at this point.
Jonestown Borough Council will have its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 1 at 295 S. Mill St.
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