SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The Schuylkill Haven Borough agenda was blank Wednesday but that did not mean the council had nothing to talk about.
Council President Marlin Berger Jr. said it was one of the first times he can recall that nothing was listed on the agenda.
The borough received a $32,746 grant from the Schuylkill Conservation District for low volume dirt/gravel roads. Borough manager Scott Graver said the grant will be used for a flood control program on Cleveland Street in the borough. He said the project would probably start in 2017. The total amount of the project is $48,986 but of that the borough will donate $16,240 in labor and equipment. The grant will cover improvement work on pipes, stone and storm inlet.
Berger commended the street crew for their dedication in plowing borough streets for 18 hours.
“We have the best roads in the areas and they are passable and our snow is off the streets here,” Berger said.
Councilman Kurt Montz commented on dumping snow on the Island and how it might be messing up the area. Graver said the snow was not dumped on any sport fields. He said the borough is limited in where it can move the snow. He said borough crews can haul snow to the Island or to the area by the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
In other news, the council voted to name the enclosure where the swans are in Bubeck Park after Helen and Paul Seiders. The couple known as “Swan Patrol” have been dedicated to taking care of the swans and their offspring for eight years this March. Mayor Mike Devlin read a proclamation from him and the council about the couple and provided them with a granite plaque.
“This protective swan enclosure is dedicated to Helen and Paul Seiders who selfless commitment to the swans and ducks of Bubeck Park is greatly appreciated,” Devlin said.
“It’s a nice piece of granite. It will last a long time,” Devlin said.
The granite plaque will be displayed in Bubeck Park. The couple said they appreciate the recognition. Berger thanked them on behalf of council for their continued devotion to the swans.
The council approved the Schuylkill Haven Halloween parade for 7 p.m. Oct. 25 in the borough.
After the meeting, Graver paid a visit to workers from the Schuylkill Haven Water/Sewer Department trying to unclog a sewer line on West Penn Street. The clog was caused by grease. Four workers, Carter Hoffman, heavy equipment operator, Jim Haeseler, electric line foreman, and Al Deatrich, electric lineman, were on scene.
At least one resident had an overflowing toilet in their basement since the line was blocked. Workers arrived on scene between 6:30 and 7 p.m. in response to the clog found in the 100 block of West Penn St. About 10 or 12 homes were affected by the blocked drain, Chad Hasenhauer, water sewer service man, said. Graver said that “grease, fat and oils are always problems in sewer systems.”