Sugar Grove Borough Council

Sugar Grove Borough Council Minutes

July 6^th, 2009 - Approved

Council Members Present:

Mayor “Dutch” Strand, President, Kevin Nicklas, Dave Slater, Jerry Bloomgren, Neal Hoisington, Kathy Buerkle, Terra LoPresti

Council Members Absent: Ryan Hoffman, Kevin McIntyre

Citizens Present: Luann Lassinger, Jenny Nicklas, Kent Wilcox, Bill Stuart, Tim & Carolee Kinander

Call to Order: Vice-President Buerkle at 7:04 p.m.

Visitor Comments: Tim & Carolee Kinander said they put “slow down” signs on School Street. Cars are going to fast and there was a close call when some kids were almost hit by a speeding vehicle. They suggested putting speed bumps in. The main concern is the number of kids that play on the street and their safety. Council members suggested putting a temporary gate up at the beginning of the school driveway during the summer. It was noted that most of the speeding happens between 4:00 and 8:00 pm. Council said they would look into what could be done.

The new school lights are shinning into people’s homes. Council said it was a school issue. The secretary will call the school and ask about having the lights redirected to shine onto school property.

Kent Wilcox talked about the local school consolidation issue. Warren County would like to close both Eisenhower High School and Sugar Grove Elementary School. Council will invite Tom Knapp, a school board representative to attend the next council meeting and update council on the school closing situation.

Kent Wilcox said he talked to the person painting the crosswalks and that they are waiting for direction on what to paint.

Bill Stuart asked about eliminating some of the parking spots in front of the store. Council has talked about this issue in past meetings with no resolution to date.

Approval of Minutes: Minutes from last meeting were approved as is.

Balance of Accounts:

Assets: June 30^th, 2009

101.100 · General Fund Checking - 8004	$ 641.93
107.000 · GF Money Market - 0516	$ 113,173.64
108.100 · Park Bank Account - 2187	$ 11,745.55
108.200 · Park Grant - 1244	$ 20,000.00
109.200 · National City CD#8077	$ 16,664.93
110 · Petty Cash	$ 475.50
35.101. · State Fund Checking - 8012	$ 10.00
35.107. · State Fund Money Market -2033	$ 15,350.58
Total Checking/Savings	$ 178,062.13

Deposits: June 2009

301.700 · RE Transfer Tax	$ 539.00
310.210 · EIT - Current Year	$ 4,890.16
331.110 · State Police/Veh. Viol.	$ 249.22
341.110 · GF Interest	$ 63.26
364.30 · Solid Waste Collection/Trash	$ 305.00
Total Income	$ 6,046.64

Bills: To be paid July 2009

Penelec (Harmon)	$7.71	electric
Penelec (Wilson)	$16.73	electric
Penelec (street lights)	$566.51	electric
SuGASA	$48.00	sewage
Karla LoPresti	$396.98	wages
Association of Mayors	$45.00	dues
Allegheny Landscaping	$300.00	lawn main.
Warren County Asse. Office	$22.00	boro & park maps
Catalone Pipe	$1,360.00	40' culvert pipe
Jones-Carroll	$856.76	clean up day / compactor & disposal
Wilcox Brothers	$333.01	trimmer & supplies
Galyan Critzer	$3,995.00	sluice pipe work
IRS	$216.88	2nd qtr employer & employee tax
E-Tides PA Withholding	$43.52	2nd qtr emp state tax
E-Tides (PA-UC)	$26.89	2nd qtr emp unemployment tax
Warren County-EIT	$14.18	2nd qtr local emp tax
Verizon	$94.68	phone
National Fuel	$30.82	gas
Total	$8,374.67

A motion was made by Neal Hoisington and seconded by Dave Slater to pay the bills. The motion carried.

Mayor’s Report:

The mayor attended an Allegheny National Forest meeting. It may take up to 2 years to get permits.

The trees are out of the creek and the phone cable hanging at the walking bridge has been repaired.

Dutch Strand was the only person to show up at the Emergency Management meeting.

Secretary’s Report:

Call and Email to Camp Stone representative for more information was not returned.

Will start “Single Application for Assistance” grant for flashing lights this week. PennDot estimated between $8,000 and $10,000 per speed sign.

Purchased (2) Sugar Grove Borough maps and (2) 7.5 minute maps (for park project) from the map office in Warren.

Park benches update: Until the Growing Greener Community Park grant is formally approved any money spent on the park will not count towards the matching funds.

Communications:

Planning & Zoning application (2)

Planning & Zoning violations (2)

Streets, Roads & Bridges: (Kevin Nicklas, Neal Hoisington)

The catch basin located on School & Pleasant street seems to go nowhere. Council is researching the cost of putting in a dry hole.

Neal Hoisington is talked with Kingsview paving about the cost to return Curtis Street to its original width & repave. It was noted that some road width could be recovered on one side. It would cost between $30,000.00 and $40,000.00 dollars to pave 740 ft by 14 ft.

It was suggested that council research all the roads in Sugar Grove and put together a long term plan for repair and maintenance. Kevin Nicklas and Neal Hoisington will work on this project.

Gaylan Critzer’s bill for the sluice pipe work done on Younnie Street was added to the monthly bills and approved.

Snow plowing for the “09/10” winter season was discussed. Wording for the bid to advertise will be reviewed at the next council meeting.

Parks, Playground, & Sidewalks: (Kathy Buerkle, Ryan Hoffman, Jerry Bloomgren)

Update on the park. Council received $20,000.00 partial payment from DCNR for the Community Park project. It has been deposited into a non-interest bearing bank account as per DCNR grant guidelines. The money can not be used until the final approval paperwork has been received from DCNR. The secretay talked with a representative from DCNR and the time line looks like we should get final approval by the end of August if everything goes well.

Jerry Bloomgren asked council to recommend that the Main Street project pay the Williams Architectural Design bill.

A motion was made by Jerry Bloomgren and seconded by Kevin Nicklas to recommend that Kathleen Reitinger of the Main Street project pay the Williams Architectural Design bill. The motion carried.

The park committee reviewed the proposals submitted for the design consultant and made their recommendation to council.

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Neal Hoisington to hire Derck & Edson Associates as the design consultant for the Community Park Grant project. The motion carried.

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Jerry Bloomgren to hire David Bauer as the attorney for the Community Park Grant project. The motion carried.

Building: (Ryan Hoffman, Kevin Nicklas, Jerry Bloomgren)

The flag pole still needs a new rope and to be painted. Dave Slater and Kevin Nicklas will get the rope replaced and the flag pole painted.

Sugar Grove VFD: (Kathy Buerkle, Dave Slater)

Council needs to assign a member to attend the Sugar Grove VFD trustee meetings.

A motion was made by Kevin Nicklas and seconded by Dave Slater to appoint Jerry Bloomgren as the Sugar Grove Borough council trustee for the Sugar Grove VFD Board of Trustees with Kevin Nicklas as the alternate. The motion passed.

Old Business:

Neal Hoisington talked with Mrs. VanDorn about maintaining the “Welcome to Sugar Grove” signs. She suggested that something be placed around the signs for maintenance. Council suggested maybe some mulch and flowers. It was noted that anything done would need to be discussed with the property owners first.

Kevin Nicklas has been reviewing inspection fees. He will look at several other options and report back to council.

Ordinances: (Neal Hoisington, Dave Slater) None

New Business:

Kathy Buerkle updated council on the Junior Council member program. Terra LoPresti will be a senior this year and can serve another term. Terra LoPresti said she would like to continue as a Junior Council member. Kathy Buerkle will look for a second Junior Council member for this year.

A motion for adjournment was made by Kevin Nicklas seconded by Dave Slater. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 8:44 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Karla F. LoPresti, Secretary

The next regular meeting will be held August 3^rd at 7:00 p.m.