SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — Work should be done soon to fix a washout on Shaffer Run Road near the Winters property according to Sugarcreek Borough maintenance foreman Dick Phillips.

“Because it was near the creek, we had to keep the DEP and the Conservation District involved,” Phillips told the Sugarcreek Borough Council at its meeting Wednesday night.

“We had to have an engineer and a contractor involved. We brought in Dick Shindledecker who lives here in the borough. We have a solution to fix the problem, and the engineer has written a form that goes to the DEP. We are now waiting for an emergency permit, which we could get by the end of the week. If we do, then we will try to do the work Monday. It should only take a day.”

Phillips, who doesn’t foresee a delay in getting the emergency permit, said that Shaffer Run Road will remain open during the repairs, but it would be limited to one lane of traffic.

“I really appreciate Dick coming down on short notice,” Phillips said.

GARBACZ ASKS ABOUT ABANDONED PROPERTY ON ROUTE 8 IN RENO

Mike Garbacz, a resident of the borough and the fire chief at Reno, asked if there was anything that could be done about a residence on Route 8 in Reno that has been abandoned for over five years.

“There is a giant tree against the house,” Garbacz said. “Maybe things need to go the same route as with the old Rocky Grove firehouse.”

Borough solicitor Brian Spaid addressed the issue telling Garbacz that there isn’t a whole lot the borough can do right now.

“It’s my understanding that the owner is deceased, and there is no estate,” Spaid said. “By law, any legal action we take has to include sending notices. We can’t serve someone when we don’t know who to serve. The borough could spend a few thousand dollars to take over the property, but then we take on the liability that goes with it including the tax liability. So, right now, we can’t do anything. The Tax Claim Bureau is going to have the same problem if the taxes aren’t paid. It’s a mess, and I don’t see the problem solved anytime soon.”

CDBG GRANT PROGRAM REAUTHORIZED

The borough council approved the 2017 Community Development Block Grant Program. The borough has a little over $92,000.00 in CDBG money.

“As you know, it’s getting increasingly more difficult to spend,” borough manager Joe Sporer said. “We are going to spend $58,346.00 of it on Shuffstall Street reconstruction. That will include milling, paving, and drainage. There will be $24,900.00 set aside for demolition, and then there is the 10 percent, $9,249.00, that the county gets for administering the account.”

RESINGER ASKS IF GRIMM STREET COULD BECOME ONE WAY

Councilman Robert Resinger asked if it was possible to either make Grimm Street one-way going up the hill or to have the bank cutoff so that people could see better going down the hill.

Cutting the bank off would involve contacting PennDOT according to Phillips. Police Chief Matt Carlson said it would most likely be an expensive proposition because state specs, including sightlines, would have to be worked into the equation.

As for making the road one-way, that power rests with the council, according to Phillips and Spaid.

No action was taken.

SCHOOL-ZONE LIGHTS UP NEAR ROCKY GROVE HIGH SCHOOL

Carlson made his report and said the new school-zone lights on 417 near Rocky Grove High School are in and powered on.

“The radar is working good,” Carlson said. “From the southbound side, it is a big improvement.”

Carlson said PennDOT still needs to come and inspect the lights.

OTHER BUSINESS