Carmichaels receives highest impact fee distribution
CARMICHAELS — Council announced Tuesday that the borough will be receiving $19,624 this year in Act 13 natural gas drilling impact fee proceeds, the most yet.
Borough secretary Brandi Streit said the borough received $15,659 in 2013, and it received $16,972 in 2012.
Streit said that only $2,000 has been spent from the funds, which was spent in the form of contributions of $1,000 each to the fire company and the water authority.
The remaining balance is $30,632, which is kept in a reserve account and does not include the $19,624 that is pending for 2014.
For now, council is considering using the money to repair parts of Market Street in front of Gabler’s drugstore, where the road is said to be in “horrible” condition and needing resurfaced, Streit said.
But Streit said she is concerned about doing any road work until a meeting is held with the owners of the drugstore. Gabler’s purchased the house south of the store and intends to install a drive-through window and a parking area there, she said, adding that the road could be torn up again.
In other matters, Mayor David Jack suggested during the meeting that the borough purchase more cold patch to repair potholes on borough streets. The potholes were patched once, but some areas are getting bad again, he said.
Streit said potholes will be patched as the weather permits.
Council also held a brief executive session for personnel. After returning to open session, Dohanich made a motion to give the borough’s three employees 3 percent raises retroactive to Jan. 1. The motion was approved unanimously.
The three borough employees are Streit and police Chief Mike Gyurke, who are both part time; and the borough’s only full-time employee, street worker Jim Petrone.