Residents at Risk of Losing Trash Service Because of Delinquent Bills

During Ellwood City Borough Council’s Regular Meeting, Ellwood City’s Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said that some residents are at risk to have their trash service ended because of delinquent bills.

Swogger said that residents are still responsible for paying their trash bill in the winter months, and unlike with electric accounts that get a grace period during cold winter months, trash bills that are four months delinquent will see an end to service.

“If you are not paying your trash bill and are over four months delinquent, you need to pay your bill,” he said.

According to Swogger, residents can specifically pay the trash portion of their bills even if not paying for the electric portion.

Once a trash service becomes delinquent past 120 days, those residents will have to buy yellow bags. Reactivation of bin service will come with a $10 fee on top of any delinquent money owed. He said there are about 17 accounts that are 120 days delinquent.

Motions passed:

A motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 1/21/25, as submitted.
A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 2/12/25, in the amount of $511,568.30, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 2/12/25, in the amount of $338,589.03.
A motion to approve the Departmental Reports.
A motion to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, establishing a stop intersection on Haig Street at Madison Avenue (northbound & southbound).
A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through the Municipal Assistance Program for the purpose of updating the Borough’s Comprehensive Plan.
A motion to exonerate the tax collector from further collection of the 2024 real estate taxes charged to her. The tax collector has accounted for all monies as either collected, exonerated or liened in accordance with her report.
A motion would be in order, to approve the request by the EC Area Public Library to close the 400 block of Lawrence Avenue on May 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a “Touch a Truck” event. 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 authorize New Castle Engineers to prepare/advertise bids for the 2025 Street Paving Program.
A motion to authorize the payment in the amount of $6,010.02 to Barber’s Chemicals for a controller for the swimming pool. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
A motion to approve the quote in the amount of $5,226.28 from Bronder Technical Services for the replacement of three (3) traffic signals (Fountain/Sims St.). This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
A motion to advertise an amendment to the Electric Ordinance, specifically the return of service deposits and increasing the amount of the service deposit.
A motion to advertise an amendment to the Electric Ordinance, specifically the “Guarantee of Payment” (Payment of Bills), moving the “shut off’ day to the 29th of the month.
A motion to approve the request by Boy Scout Troop #806 to camp at shelter #8 on April 18 & 19 during the Earth Day Festivities and to have a small camp fire.
A motion to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to use Ewing Park and all facilities for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 12 from 11-4pm. 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 2025 YMCA Swimming Pool Management Agreement, as submitted. The cost for the YMCA to manage the pool is $14,000. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
A motion to establish the 2025 employee hourly billing rates as follows (first number rate, second number overtime billing rate):
- Supervisors, 56.61, 77.24
- Clerical, 39.11, 50.22
- Police Full-Time, 72.91, 86.49
- Police Part Time, 24.65, 36.98
- Fire, 63.24, 79.40
- Public, Works, Electric, WWTP, 48.88, 64.72
- Parks Labor, 16.60, 24.90
- Code Enforcement, 21.06, 30.67
- Be it further moved that 1) When Borough manpower is utilized for “In Borough Taxpayers/Groups” (businesses, residents, profit/non-profit groups), ACTUAL employee hourly rate (whether Base Rate or Overtime Rate), shall be used 2) When Borough manpower is utilized for “Out of Borough Third Party Vendor Activity” (businesses (Federal/State agencies/Utilities), residents, profit/non profit groups), then the Standardized Billing Rates (Base and/or Overtime Rate) established annually by Council, shall be used. Any and al1 requests for Borough manpower must be submitted to the Borough Manager/Council for review before the Borough’s manpower can be utilized.
A motion to approve the travel request of Devin Marshall to attend Intermediate Lineworker Training in Columbus, OH, June 23-26 and August 11-14. The total cost will be $5,150. This amount will be paid from the Electric Fund.

Announcements:

Picnic shelter reservations will begin on the fourth Monday in February (Feb. 24) for Borough residents and beginning on the fourth Monday in March (Mar. 24) for non-Borough residents. Reservations must be made in person.