OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — The Oil City Council authorized a new agreement with a company to provide debt collection services for the city.

On Thursday evening, the council approved authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with CREDITECH to act as the city’s debt collector.

According to City Manager Mark Schroyer, while a collection rate of 94 percent to 96 percent is considered ideal, Oil City falls well below that rate.

“It’s not fair that 75 or 80 percent of the city is subsidizing 20 percent that’s just not paying their bills,” Schroyer said. “The rates could have to go up more because of the delinquent accounts.”

“We’re making some inroads into collections, but not near where we need to be. We’ll continue to do that, and hiring a delinquent debt collector is part of that process because, essentially, those accounts are just laying there dormant. Handing those off to someone who has the ability to go after these accounts, find out where these folks are, and things of that nature, I think, is the right move and continues our pattern of trying to get the city on the right track financially.”

Central Avenue Fire Station Roof Replacement to Be Bid

The Council approved putting the replacement of the roof at the Central Avenue Fire Station out for bid.

City Manager Mark Schroyer noted that the city could begin seeing bids in the next few weeks, and with the project estimated in the $90,000.00 to $100,000.00 range, it should interest a number of contractors.

Schroyer also noted that the money for the project is already allocated in the 2019 budget.

“Once again, we’re able to pay cash for a fairly significant project, and that’s kind of the pattern of what we’ve been doing the last couple of years,” said Schroyer.

Labor Contract With Firefighters in Development

Schroyer announced that the city is working on a new labor contract with the city’s firefighters union.

“We have come to an agreement in principle, and we’re working out terms in writing,” Schroyer told ExploreVenango.com.

Though the current contract doesn’t expire until the end of this year, Schroyer hopes to have the new agreement ready by the next council meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business the council:

• Approved request from city firefighter Chad Berry to rescind his letter announcing his retirement
• Appointed Maureen James to the city’s Redevelopment Authority
• Approved a request from the Oil Region Indie Fest committee to hold the 12th annual Oil Region Indie Music Festival on Saturday, June 8, on Seneca Street in the city’s North Side
• Authorized the advertising for bids to purchase property in part of the city’s industrial park
• Approved a request for permission to modify the 2015 CDBG Contract to include funding for a 2019 project to pave Bissell Avenue
• Approved the purchase of a condemned building located at 2 High Street, for $1, to be demolished