Jun 19, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – After almost three years of waiting and wondering, borough council announced Tuesday that South Market Street will be paved this summer. Council President John Hritz said that he spoke with Ann Bargerstock, Greene County director of planning and development, who told him the county commissioners have signed off on a contract with a company to do the paving.

The project was part of the state’s dommunity development block grant (CDBG) program and had been funded, but Hritz said that now that the commissioners have signed off, the state must approve the pact before the work can proceed.

“It’s been three long years, but it is finally going to happen,” Hritz said.

Another project that is slated to get under way later this summer is construction of a new, one-story borough building.

Hritz said the engineer for the project had to make some minor adjustments to the plans before construction could begin, but assured council that the start date will be soon.

The building will be located on South Market Street, across from First Federal Savings & Loan and could open by the end of the year. The borough received a $25,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development last month to help council purchase furniture and equipment for the new offices once the building is ready.

The site will house the borough offices, borough police department and the Carmichaels Water Authority.

The borough donated the property for the building, and the authority will cover the estimated $220,000 construction cost.

Borough secretary-treasurer Mary Lewis used Tuesday’s meeting to remind residents to keep their lawns mowed during the summer, as letters have already been sent to some property owners for having unkempt yards. Residents also are reminded to ensure that grass clippings are not blown into the street but are kept in the yards.

“Clean up the yards for the summer months,” she said. “You know the grass needs cut and you know the garbage needs picked up.”

Lewis also updated the borough on PennDOT’s installation of two new traffic signals in the borough, which she said will be completed by mid-August. Council voted to draft a letter of thanks to PennDOT, which is paying for the entire cost of replacing the signals.

“This is going to be a great improvement,” she said. “We will have the street done, the lights in, and a new building.”

Council also welcomed new councilman Ryan Armstrong, who took his seat Tuesday evening.

Armstrong was appointed to council last month after James Zalar resigned earlier this year to move out of the borough. Armstrong will serve as chairman of the borough’s nuisance committee.