Masontown resident approaches council on creek conditions
MASONTOWN – Borough council heard from a concerned resident who expressed her dismay over the borough’s actions toward an overgrown creek bed on her property. Joann Young of Masontown, who owns property bordering East Church Street, said the borough does not maintain Cats Run Creek as it should.
During Tuesday’s regular meeting, Young told council members the bank of the creek was overgrown with trees and shrubbery and that the creek was full of debris.
“Something’s got to be done,” she said, noting that the creek floods whenever a hard rain occurs.
“It used to be a harmless ditch and now it’s a creek that fills up and overflows continuously,” Young said.
Council told Young they would look into the matter and would contact an official with the state Department of Environmental Protection. However, council also told Young the creek may not be their responsibility and that it may be up to the state Department of Transportation to correct the problem, since they are responsible for the pipes that carry overflow water into the creek.
Borough engineer Russ Mechling said borough workers could not dredge the creek without proper permits.
In other matters, council approved a new $650 annual recycling contract with Goodwill Industries, with councilwoman Carole Daniels voting against the contract.
Council members Joe Volansky, Charles Popovich Jr. and Thomas J. Salonick were not present for the meeting.
During the mayor’s report, Tom Loukota reported that he and police Chief Rich Barron recently patrolled the borough and made a list of houses that are in a “state of disrepair.”
During last month’s meeting, council decided to hire an engineer who would be able to inspect the blighted buildings in the borough so that condemnations could be issued when needed.
Loukota said he is anxious to have the engineer begin working and said he would provide the engineer with the list of dilapidated houses he and Barron put together.
In addition, Loukota also thanked everyone who volunteered during the borough’s Fourth of July celebration, deeming the annual festivity “a success.”
Council also conducted the following business:
– Reported the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the borough’s emergency management plan.
– Voted to hire Feaster Pension Consulting to manage the borough’s pension fund program.