Myerstown Mayor Dane Bicher makes rare public address on media coverage

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

In a rare address following an executive session by council Tuesday, Myerstown Mayor Dane Bicher warned of shifts to the media landscape and concerns about the upcoming election.

Reading a speech he had written beforehand, Bicher opened by explaining that he rarely makes public comment and he was not sure whether it was the best decision, but he felt it was necessary given the circumstances.

He reflected on the change Myerstown has seen in information access, referencing his concern that many residents learn about local news predominately from Facebook posts that may contain inaccuracies.

Bicher harkened back to when Myerstown was still regularly covered by the Lebanon Daily News (LDN), expressing his preference for print circulations in ability to deliver unbiased news to residents that covers both sides of issues.

He referenced a bond renewal that occurred around three years ago, mentioning that council was able to save around $1,000,000 through smart financial choices. However, he said this was not broadly covered by news outlets or spread through social media.

Based on newspaper archives, LDN stopped regularly covering Myerstown council meetings around 2015. LebTown’s Civic Impact Reporting Project only expanded to include Myerstown in early 2024, leaving the borough mostly without coverage of municipal meetings for close to 10 years.

He also referenced a Facebook post by council member Kathy Yang, who is letting her term lapse and is not running again, in which she referred to council members Ronald Ream, Park Haverstick, and Sam Moyer as “overlords” and endorsed Daniel Ebling, Brad Kahl, Todd Kahl, and Matt Mulvaney for the May 20 primary.

“I’m not sure what your concerns are, that you feel these people are overlords,” Bicher said, condemning Yang for publicly insulting her peers. He praised Ream, Haverstick, and Moyer as being “community-minded” in their decision-making.

He also voiced concern that Yang has been overly focused on recreation during her time on council. Yang fought for the recreation board to maintain responsibilities for numerous events, such as the first Myerstown carnival, which the Elmer C. Ebling Memorial Charity ultimately assumed responsibility for.

Read More: First annual Myerstown carnival scheduled for Memorial Day weekend

On the upcoming primary, Bicher said he was worried that “three of the four people running for council, outside of sitting members, are from the same family,” calling the connection nepotism.

Elmer C. Ebling Memorial Charity president and Myerstown council candidate Daniel Ebling, who is a regular attendee of council meetings, pushed back, saying that his familial connection to other candidates goes back three generations.

“We’re distant family,” he said. “We’re all related if you go back far enough.”

Myerstown’s election will most likely come down to the primary, with all seven candidates (for four seats) running as Republicans.

This year’s election also encompasses the mayoral seat, but Bicher, also a Republican, is the only candidate in the running for either party.

Council also heard continued concerns from residents about a short-term rental property located at 11 N. College St.

The rental application for the property was approved by the borough’s code enforcement officer despite repeated complaints from neighbors of excessive noise, inadequate response time from the home’s contact person, and other issues such as illegal parking and use of illegal substances.

Only one violation has been issued against the property owner, concerning advertising the home as having a greater guest capacity than is permitted by borough ordinances.

Communication on this topic has been mixed and heated, with Haverstick previously apologizing for giving neighbors the impression that council would be in charge of approving or denying the renewal.

Read More: Myerstown Borough Council fields short-term rental concerns

Short-term rental applications and renewals are handled by the borough’s code enforcement officer. However, in the case of any party’s disagreement with the decision, the application comes before council.

Council president Haverstick advised concerned neighbors to file an appeal and bring forth their concerns and any evidence they may have at that time.

Solicitor Amy Leonard said that without a police department, the borough is generally unable to substantiate reports of noise or substance use. However, she urged neighbors to compile potential violations by the rental’s contact person, as these are more easily substantiated.

In other news, council:

• Directed borough manager Michael McKenna to send a letter to Jackson Township requesting $10,000 for pool maintenance costs. Jackson encompasses the largest amount of pool users save for Myerstown, McKenna explained, and if the township contributed to pool costs, Jackson residents would be offered the same discounted rate as Myerstown residents.
• Heard of excessive truck traffic on Broad Street, which led to a fire hydrant on a resident’s property being broken, and responded that they are evaluating the next steps needed to ban some truck traffic on the street.
• Unanimously approved the replacement of the west side pool fence for $17,768.25.
• Unanimously approved a proposal from the Elmer C. Ebling Memorial Charity to organize the annual yard sale June 21 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., with food trucks staying until 3 p.m.
• Unanimously approved minutes of their March 11 meeting.
• Unanimously approved the payment of bills and treasurer’s report.

Myerstown Borough Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.