Ellwood City Borough Council to Advertise Bids for Waste Collection

Trash was the top topic at Ellwood City’s Borough Council meeting Monday night.

Council voted to advertise bids for the collection of refuse, recycling, and yard waste.

Borough Manager David Allen said this is just the bidding process and that a final decision as to the process and collection company will come later.

Before voting to allow the bidding process, Councilwoman Lisa Guererra requested that officials take into consideration the concerns and needs of all community members including the ones who like the bags, who don’t like the bags, and those who pay to have their own dumpsters. She said she hopes to see the most options available for all citizens.

Councilman Caleb Cragle added he would like to ensure that citizens are able to get the recycling services that they are paying for.

Allen said he has been working hard and diligently to address each citizen’s concern regarding trash collection and recycling.

Allen said addressing the trash and recycling issues in the borough has been a number one priority after recycling centers and trash collection companies have frowned upon doing business with the borough citing a concern with residents not disposing of waste properly and that trash has been found hidden among items picked up for recycling.

He said moving forward his goal is to implement the most efficient methods at the best cost.

“We have to make it easier for our citizens to get rid of their trash in an affordable manner,” he said.

According to Allen, Ellwood City has been referred to as an “over the hill community,” meaning that oftentimes garbage is simply dumped over the hill to avoid the cost and process of legally getting rid of waste and recyclables.

He is intent on seeing that change.

“We plan to include or hope to include numerous options for trash removal,” he said noting that it all rests on the bidding process.

In other council news:

Mayor Anthony Court reported that the Ellwood City Police Department is back to full strength, and the department is closer to a transition process to implement a new K9 officer.

“Having a K9 is vital to the department,” Mayor Court said.

He reminded the community to adhere to posted speed limits in the borough and suggested council and borough officials consider researching raising the speed limit on Second Street from 25 mph to 35 mph stating that the 25 mph limit was set when the mills in that area were bustling with vehicle and foot traffic in the area.

Court also warned community members about two scams circulating through Ellwood City including phone calls from the IRS.

“There are a large amount of scams hitting the area, and they are not just being directed toward the elderly,” he said.

Court insisted that the IRS would never call residents looking for information.

He said another intrusive scam is an actor posing as Armstrong Cable. He said a person will call and ask for personal information including social security numbers and request payments that consumers don’t actually owe.

“They are scams,” he said.

Motions passed at the meeting:

A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 1/12/21, in the amount of$357,565.89, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 1/13/21 , in the amount of $163,599.10.
A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, re-establishing electric reconnection charges.
A motion to adopt the 2021 IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate of 56 cents per mile.
A motion to approve the 2021 monthly transfer in the amount of $120,833.33 to the General Fund from the Electric Fund.
The Electric Usage Sold in 2020 was 47,862,013 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 $47,862 to the Electric Capital Reserve Fund from the Electric Fund. This entry shall be reflected on the books for 2020.
A motion to advertise bids for the collection of refuse, recycling, and yard waste.
A motion to authorize the purchase of a hot box/reclaimer from Seal Master in the amount of $28,230 (Costar pricing). This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
A motion to approve the request by the EC Girls Softball to use the Girls field at Stiefel Park, February – November, Mondays -Fridays, 4-l0pm and the SW comer of the Soccer Field, February-November, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-9pm.
A motion to approve the 2021 fee schedule submitted by Maurice Waltz Planners and Consultants for Sewage Enforcement Services.
A motion to establish salaries and wages for the following part time employee effective with the first pay in January, 2021 as follows: Secretary to mayor/police chief/planning/zoning at an hourly rate of $12.25.
A motion to promote Andy Petrella, WWTP Manager to full time status, retroactive to 1/1/21.
A motion to approve the proposal from Granicus in the amount of $7,500 for website design services. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
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.

Tabled motions:

A motion to authorize the one-time donation in the amount of $5,000 to the Ellwood City Area Historical Society. This amount will be paid from the L&N Property Fund and shall only be used for the acquisition, restoration, and maintenance of historical properties.

Failed motions:

A motion to approve the request by the EC Fastpitch to use Merit Book Park and the Women’s Field at Stiefel Park, Mondays – Sundays, June 1 – October 31.

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. 22) for Borough residents and beginning on the fourth Monday in March (Mar. 22) for non-Borough residents.