Council- Volleyball Lights Raise Question of Park Hours

At Monday’s Ellwood City Borough council agenda meeting, council member George Celli questioned a motion to purchase an LED lightning package for the volleyball court in Ewing Park at a cost of $9,068.98.

Celli felt it was unwise to install lights for one court without considering the costs of installing lights for other amenities, such as the tennis court and skateboard park. In addition, he felt lights would nullify the “dawn to dusk” hours of the park.

Council member Jim Barry felt all the courts should have lights, on the grounds that money was available from the Marcelus Shale Fund and extended park hours could keep children off the streets at night.

“We will only have this money for so long,” Celli said, to which Barry replied, “Kids are only kids for so long.”

Council President Judi Dici requested council member Marilyn Mancini to inquire what other communities do in their parks and agreed that council should research the total cost involved. However, she sided with Barry on using the money while it’s available.

Celli expressed concern for residents neighboring the park courts but Dici replied, “The park was there before the neighbors.”

Other Council News:

• First round interviews for borough manager are being held today and tomorrow.
• A motion to sell a 2006 Spartan Fire Truck was pulled due to all prospective new trucks being sold. The fire department must have two operational trucks until Fire Chief Rick Myers locates a new truck at a reasonable cost. The 2006 Spartan would have been sold at $105,000, and the cheapest truck found on the market was $120,000. According to council member Rob Brough, Myers felt this wouldn’t have been a cost effective purchase.
• In response to an inquiry by Barry concerning a sewer line in North Side, Dici said borough workers have temporarily fixed the problem and are waiting for the state to determine if the sewer will need replaced.
• Council will vote to advertise the sale of several properties next Monday, but after discussion, Dici requested borough solicitor Ed Leymarie to provide detailed information on each property. “We don’t even know what’s going on,” Celli said in regards to proposing a motion.
• There will be a controlled burn at Merit Book Park behind the backstop to eliminate poison ivy and oak.