Carmichaels council to study street conditions
CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Borough will continue to look into the condition of streets in the borough to see if heavy trucks are causing damage. Council agreed Tuesday to inspect the streets for excessive damage. Last month, Councilman Ralph McWilliams said heavy truck traffic from the drilling of natural gas wells is damaging the streets and listed North Market Street as an example. Council Vice President Annette Thomas said she inspected the streets prior to Tuesday’s meeting and did not notice excessive damage. McWilliams said he disagreed.
McWilliams, Thomas and Mayor Mike Dohanich agreed to look at the streets together following the Tuesday night meeting.
The borough owns a total of 1.9 miles, including North and South Market, East and West Greene streets and the alleys.
In other matters, McWilliams said the borough’s police officer is patrolling in the morning, adding that it may be more beneficial for the borough to have police protection in the evening hours. Councilman Chris Bates said he feels the officer should alternate shifts. Bates, chairman of the public safety committee, asked McWilliams to forward any questions or complaints from residents regarding the police department to him.
In other action, council voted to advertise bids for a new sidewalk outside of the borough building.
State Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, and state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, helped secure the $25,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, McWilliams told the board that residents have been complaining of cats, which he said has been a previous problem for the borough. Borough manager Mary Lewis said the borough has distributed flyers and written letters to the cat owners. She said residents may set traps to catch the cats and take them to the local Humane Society. She said removing the cats from private property is not the borough’s responsibility.
Council also voted to reappoint Al Smalara to the sewer authority.