MAHANOY CITY - The borough council is cracking down on chronic delinquents regarding garbage collection accounts.
During the April borough council meeting, borough solicitor Michael A. O'Pake said borough Manager Daniel L. Lynch provided him with the delinquent list.
"Dan recently sent me some severe delinquencies on the garbage accounts," O'Pake said. "We will be filing complaints with the magistrate. Hopefully we'll get either payments or get judgments against them."
O'Pake said officials have discussed the issue before and added, "I think borough council really needs to get aggressive in collecting these and if it takes going to a sheriff's sale for some of these properties because these are severe delinquencies, then so be it. There are times when people are late sometimes and behind a couple of times, but these are in the thousands of dollars. There are about eight or 10 (delinquents) and we'll use them as test cases."
Concerning another matter, O'Pake said a letter was sent to Blaschak Coal Co. requesting street cleaning along the routes the trucks take through the borough.
"They called my office and they indicated that they've done cleanups in the past and they're willing to do that again. We just have to coordinate that with them. That's a positive step," O'Pake said.
During the public portion of the meeting, several residents spoke of problems with neighboring properties.
Daniel Cunningham spoke about the building at 421 W. Mahanoy St., which he said is in a dilapidated condition and the rear porch has collapsed. He said the property had been on a demolition list, but he learned it has new owners through a county sale.
It was explained that the county can sell a tax-delinquent property even if it is on a borough demolition list, but the borough can now approach the new owner.
Resident Pat Mullins asked about the upcoming blight summit at the county courthouse. Council Vice President Raymond Cavenas said would be held on April 30 and he will attend.
"We're going to be sending out fliers encouraging the public to attend," Lynch said.
Another resident, Alice Moore, asked about the status of the 915 E. Pine St. property that was destroyed in a fire in 2011. She said the foundation and a large unfilled hole remains, which she said is a danger to children.
"We addressed this at the workshop the other night and we're going to get it filled," Cavenas said.
Moore also asked about another property at 918 E. Market St. that has a yard filled with all types of items and debris. She said this was the first time she brought the matter to the borough's attention. She was asked to file a complaint at the borough hall and the matter will be addressed.
Resident Mary Edith Rhoades spoke about a problem at 126 E. Centre St., where there is a metal basement door that is separating from the concrete, leaving a hole in which someone could step and be injured.
Cavenas said the borough workers will look at the problem and put a temporary cover over it.
Lynch responded to a question from resident Sarah Devine about clearing trees along a section of East Railroad Street on the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad right of way. Lynch said he was awaiting a response from the railroad about the tree cutting.
"I haven't received the (written) agreement back yet, but they (railroad officials) were in agreement that they would do that," Lynch said.
In other business, the Lt. John Kaczmarczyk, officer in charge, said the Mahanoy City Police Department station will be a dropoff location for the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday. Medications no longer wanted can be taken to the station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"So if anyone has any older expired medications that they don't want, they can bring them to the police station and the DEA will pick them up and dispose of them," Kaczmarcyk said.
Mayor Nancy Petritsch added that the bottle labels should be removed.
Councilman Francis Burke announced that Anthony Aschman is the new assistant chief at the Good American Hose Company No. 3, Mahanoy City.
Burke also passed along a request from the Good American to close the 700 and 800 blocks of East Mahanoy Avenue and Eighth Street from Pine to Mahanoy Avenue from June 20 to 22 for the company's annual block party. The company also requested an exemption from the borough's "brown bag law" and permission to hold the fire truck parade on June 20. The council approved the requests.
The council also reappointed Barry Brassington to a five-year term on the Mahanoy City Sewer Authority board.