RINGTOWN — Design work will begin for a drainage project to correct problems on East Main Street in the borough.
The Ringtown Borough Council authorized Alfred Benesch & Co., the borough’s consulting engineer, to begin the engineering design at Monday’s meeting.
“At last month’s meeting, we discussed doing the stormwater improvements over at East Main Street,” Benesch project manager Jacqueline Peleschak said. “I have a proposal for engineering design and contract administration.”
The proposal was for $7,800 for design and administration, and another $2,600 for construction administration.
“If we get the go-ahead, we’ll do a survey in one day and that will allow us to do a design,” Peleschak said.
The project will replace 150 feet of stormwater pipe, four inlets, improvements to driveways and restoration of the trench, not curb-to-curb. According to council President Julian Milewski at a previous meeting, several storm drains are collapsing and there is also inadequate drainage in the area. The existing drains will be brought up to standards and some additional drains will be put in to mitigate the problem.
“We estimate (the project) at about $80,000,” Peleschak said.
The borough council approved to have Benesch design the project and put it out for bids.
In other business, borough foreman Scott Schuetrum said new chlorination equipment has been received for the borough-operated water-distribution system.
“We’re switching it out piece by piece and should have it done by the end of the week, I would think,” Schuetrum said.
Schuetrum and Peleschak met with David Narducci of the Misty Springs Horse Farm about plans for a driveway/road on his property. In April, Narducci questioned the decision of the borough engineer that since the area has had drainage issues in the past, he was required to apply for a permit and list exactly how he intends to put the road in while ensuring that the drainage will not be an issue.
“Jacquie and I met with Dave Narducci in a quick meeting before we did anything with his permit,” Schuetrum said. “We looked at it and he was agreeable to the changes dealing with our concerns with the guide rail and the ditch. It will still be in the same general vicinity, just shifted about 16 feet. The permit has been issued.”
Schuetrum also spoke about a stormwater drainage problem on Oak Street near Apple Street. Peleschak will review the situation, particularly whether the borough is responsible for the drainage problem.
Pothole repair and patching has begun, Schuetrum said, though rainy days prevented some work. He said the pothole repair will resume this week, weather permitting, after which crack sealing will be done.
A water pump is in need of replacement, Schuetrum said, with the cost of replacement at $1,200.
“We are required by DEP to have two pumps so that if one breaks, the other one is there to take over,” Schuetrum said to the council. “Both pumps are used so they both get the same amount of wear.”
“It’s a maintenance item so just order the pump,” Milewski, a Republican-Herald employee, told Schuetrum.
Milewski reported the street sweeper was in the borough and worked eight hours cleaning Main and Centre streets and a few side streets. At the April meeting, the borough council authorized the street sweeper at a cost not to exceed $1,000.
“We had a fairly light winter and we opted to sweep the main streets. Two people mentioned to me about not doing the side streets,” Milewski said.
Councilman James Compton Sr. asked about previous years when the sweeping was done on the side streets. Arthur “Pat” Aungst Inc., Pine Grove, was contracted this year and has been cleaning the borough streets for years.
Milewski said that due to the need to clean the side streets in previous year, the borough paid for an extra day for the sweeping. Schuetrum said in the previous year the cost was $2,100 for 17 hours. This year the limit was $1,000.
“He was actually here a little more than eight hours,” Schuetrum said. “He got done what he could get done. He was able to get all the side streets done on the east end.”
Mayor Albert Breznik Jr. said anyone who wants to sweep their curbs on their own, they should contact the borough office for a borough truck to pick up the dirt.
The borough council approved the renewal of the contract for electricity through the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Energy Program in conjunction with ChamberChoice and its consultant, OnDemand Energy Solutions. Before the vote, Milewski said that compared to Pennsylvania Electric Utilities Inc. rates, the borough has saved $13,000 since March 2014.
The borough council entered executive session to discuss personnel matters, and upon returning to the open meeting, took no actions and adjourned.