Masontown council again hears flooding concerns
MASONTOWN — Masontown Borough Council was once again approached by a resident asking that something be done to help reduce flooding near her home.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, JoAnn Young, who resides at 809 E. Church Ave., said immediate action needs to be taken.
“I don’t know what else to do,” she said.
Young said her yard floods regularly when a creek near her house overflows and that the majority of water appears to be runoff from the Masontown-German Park.
According to Young, Tuesday’s rain had the creek on the cusp of overflowing once again.
Young said several borough officials and borough engineer Art Brower were able to see the roaring creek for themselves.
“Something must be done,” she said.
Brower said dredging the creek and removing some vegetation and silt may help reduce the flooding problem.
The state Department of Environmental Protection would have to issue a permit for the borough to dredge that section of creek.
“I think that would alleviate a good portion of the problem,” Brower said.
Brower said Young and council would have to reach some sort of agreement because the work would occur on private property, however, Brower also acknowledged dredging the creek also may help alleviate some flooding concerns in other areas, too.
Young said she and her husband would be willing to contribute financially to see the problem resolved.
Councilwoman Kim Essig said the borough recently sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting that the Corps investigate flooding problems in the area.
Councilman Frank McLaughlin also made a motion, which passed 5-0, to send a letter to U.S. Rep. Mark S. Critz, D-Johnstown, asking if any money is available through his office.
Council President Harry Lee said all the flooding issues in the borough are a concern and are being investigated.
In other business, council voted 5-0 to approve a proposed spending plan for the 2012 fiscal year.
The tentative budget shows $2.4 million in total revenue and $2.6 million in total expenditures, leaving a deficit of $259,300.
Council said the budget is estimated and will be balanced when approved in December, noting that the tentative budget does not include the borough’s final fourth quarter numbers.
In addition, council announced a vacancy exists on the Masontown Municipal Authority and that anyone interested in serving should send a letter to the borough building.
Council also announced water will be shut-off Dec. 6 to any residences with delinquent accounts of two or more months.