Borough Manager Provides Update on Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project During Council Regular Meeting

During the regular meeting of Ellwood City Borough Coucil Tuesday night, Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said the Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project is about 40 percent completed.

The Borough had announced the start of the project in October in an effort to improve the infrastructure in the area. The project is a sewer upgrade for multiple existing sewer transport lines in the wooded area East of Wampum Ave. A pump station will also be built to collect from these lines to be transported to the Ellwood City Borough Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment. The tentative construction completion date of the project is April 2025.

Swogger also said that a sewer upgrade study is also underway to continue improving the sewer system borough wide.

Motions passed:

• A motion to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting held 12/1/23 and the Regular Meeting held 12/18/23.
• A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 1/8/24, in the amount of $1,050,938.03, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 1/11/24, in the amount of $336,822.09.
• A motion to approve the Departmental Reports.
• A motion to accept the resignation of James Johnson from the Civil Service Commission, effective immediately.
• A motion to advertise the vacancy on the Civil Service Commission for a term that expires 12/31/27.
• A motion to approve the donation in the amount of $100 to the Lawrence Co. Tourist Promotion Agency. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
• A motion to approve the donation in the amount of $2,500 to the EC Area Historical Society. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
• A motion to adopt the 2024 IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate of 67 cents per mile.
• A motion to approve the 2024 monthly transfer in the amount of $120,833.33 to the General Fund from the Electric Fund.
• The Electric Usage Sold in 2023 was 45,895,606 kwh. Borough Ordinance #2211, Section 38: Purchase Power Adjustment states that one mill (.001) per kilowatt hour is charged for the purpose of capital improvements. Therefore, a motion to transfer $45,896 to the Electric Capital Reserve Fund from the Electric Fund. This entry shall be reflected on the books for 2023.
• A motion to approve the payment in the amount of $5,446.36 to Emergency Medical Products for the purchase of five (5) AEDs for the Police Department. This amount will be paid from the General Fund (Police Grant).
• A motion to approve the quote in the amount of $17,160.40 (Costar pricing) from Process Pump & Seal for the purchase of a check valve at the swimming pool. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
• A motion to authorize the purchase of 35 steel waste cans for Lawrence Avenue from WebstaurantStore.com in the amount of $12,400.61. This amount will be paid from the Recycling Fund.
• A motion to approve the request by the ECABF to use the Rosanna Park field March 18 – October 31, Mon-Fri from 4-10 p.m., Sat/Sun 7a.m. to 10 p.m.
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Recreational Fastpitch Softball to use Merit Book from April 1 – December 31, M-F, 4-9 p.m.
• A motion to approve the request by the Fishers of Men to use the Community Plaza for community outreach on June 8 at 5 p.m.
• A motion to approve the request to hold a Wine & Bourbon Walk on May 11 from 12-4 p.m. along Lawrence Avenue from 4th–8th Street. It is also requested to utilize the gravel lot in the 500 block of Lawrence Avenue to park food trucks during the event.
• A motion to ratify the employment of Julie McKoen as Bookkeeper in the Clerical Department, contingent upon the successful completion of all background checks. The rate of pay is $21.21/hour (85% of full rate of $24.95). Her first day of employment was January 8, 2024.
• A motion to authorize the employment of Scott Hedland as Patrolman, contingent upon the successful completion of all background checks. The rate of pay is $25.03/hour (66% of full rate of $37.93).
• A motion to approve the two-year Employment Agreement for the Borough Manager (Kevin Swogger)
• A motion to authorize the promotion of Rhiannon Schnell from Clerk I to Clerk II, retroactive to 1/1/24. Her rate of pay will increase from $20.66/hour to $21.99/hour (full rate).
• A motion to authorize the pay increase of Jessica Argiro, Administrative Assistant from $23.12/hour to $25.69/hour (full rate), effective 1/23/24.
• A motion to accept proposals from engineering firms to provide engineering services to the Borough.
• A motion to approve utilizing Diane Daubenspeck for additional clerical support services on a limited, as needed, basis for $100.00 per hour (not to exceed an additional $5,000).
• A motion to authorize the promotion of Brian Seaburn from Laborer III to Laborer II, retroactive to 1/4/24. His rate of pay will increase from $27.96/hour to $28.27/hour (full rate).
• A motion to exclude the Borough from the Beaver County Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program and continue to receive funds from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development as an entitlement community under Act 179.
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Girls Softball to use the girls’ softball field at Stiefel Park from March 1 – October 31, M-F, 3-10 p.m. and Sat/Sun 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., and the corner of the multipurpose field March 1 – October 31, M-F, 3-9 p.m. and Sat/Sun 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• A motion to approve the request by the Ellwood City Farmers’ Market to use the Beaver Avenue parking lot, stage and comfort station Saturdays from June 1 – October 5 from 8:00 a.m. – noon (actual event time is 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.).
• A motion to advertise bids on a roadway replacement project specifically Madison Avenue from March Street to Wampum Avenue.
• A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, authorizing the execution of the 2023 NPP Power Pool Participant Schedule with American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP).
• A motion to approve the payment in the amount of $7,012.00 to the PA Chiefs of Police Assn. for Livescan and CPIN maintenance fees for 2024. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to use Ewing Park and the swimming pool parking lot for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 30 from 11-4 p.m. This request is also asking for permission to invite food trucks to the event and paying the appropriate fee to the Borough.
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to hold the “Wander Ellwood” event on June 12, July 10, and August 14 from 5-9 p.m., and September 11 from 5-8 p.m. It is also requested to approve suspending Part 10, Chapter 1066, subsection 1066.03 (a) of the Codified Ordinance Book pertaining to the prohibition of alcohol. This suspension only applies to participants of the “Wander Ellwood” event. Event insurance shall be purchased, naming the Borough of Ellwood City as an additional named insured. All necessary State and County permits shall be in place for this event.
• A motion to authorize the employment of Jonathan Gardner as part-time firefighter at the rate of $18.00/hour.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Borough residents may drop off live Christmas trees (decorations removed) at Stiefel Park now through January 31
• Picnic shelter reservations will begin on the fourth Monday in February (Feb. 26) for Borough residents (in order to reserve a shelter, residents must appear in person on Feb. 26 at the Utility Billing Window. No call ins will be accepted) and beginning on the fourth Monday in March (Mar. 25) for non-Borough residents.