PINE GROVE - Summer will arrive in Pine Grove with the opening of the community pool at 9 a.m. June 7.
Parks and Recreation Committee Chairman Mike Allison reported May 15 that the pool has been cleaned and some maintenance work and landscaping was done May 17-18.
Passes
Season passes are already available at borough hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through June 6, as well as from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday at the pool. Purchasing early will save families $15 over the regular price of $150, and individuals $8, over the regular charge of $80. Added this year are $50 senior citizen season passes with the early purchase, saving $5 for singles, and the $90 early purchase of a couple's pass, saving $9.
Lessons
Swimming lessons will also be available for infants and toddlers up to level 6 skill proficiency. Classes will be held in both the morning and afternoon and cost $35 for the first child and $30 for each additional child. Advanced registration is required and can be done during the same hours and at the same locations as the season pass purchases.
'Niceties'
Some new "niceties" are also being added this year, compliments of an area nonprofit. "Hugs and Kisses" has purchased eight nine-foot umbrellas for use by swimmers on a first come, first served basis. The pool committee has also purchased several umbrellas for the picnic tables.
Council President Scott Zimmerman thanked both Lenny Clark and his streets crew, plus the office personnel for the extra work piled on them in getting the swimming season ready.
"Hugs and Kisses" was also given permission to install trash cans that will be connected to parking meters, as well as some recycling containers. Potts & Monger Sanitation will empty the containers on a weekly schedule. Permission was also given for the group to place some benches along borough streets with the permission of the property owners.
Public park
The council provided permission for "Hugs and Kisses" to establish and maintain a small public park, including a gazebo and "Welcome to Pine Grove" sign, on the corner of East Pottsville and Laurel streets, the site of one of the FEMA buy-out properties.
On the opposite side of East Pottsville Street, next to Rossi's Law Office, resident Randy Zimmerman was given permission to landscape and maintain another lot, vacant because of a FEMA buy-out.
Fire company carnival
The Pine Grove Hose, Hook & Ladder Fire Company will hold its annual carnival from June 10 through 14 on company grounds. In addition to nightly music, rides the first night will cost $1. Fireworks are scheduled for June 13 night (rain date, June 14 night).
Water
Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Fickinger reported he and Clark have made a list of parts needing replacement on the borough's water system. Some, Fickinger said, are 20 years old. He noted that a recent replacement has significantly decreased the loss of water from 1,000 gallons per minute to 400 gallons. Items on the list include a rainfall gauge, controls, sensors, chlorine analyzer and a fence around the generator.
Fickinger also reported the plans to breech the Adams Run Dam will be re-worked by Rick Yutko of WJP Engineering. In addition, Yutko will research the grant possibilities to complete the remainder of the project started with the replacement of pipes between the VFW and Leghart properties, damaged during the flood.
Parking
Mayor Will Shiffer re-introduced what he considered to be a business friendly request. As he had done last month, he again explained that the annual business parking meter permit he was suggesting would designate a parking space for a named business, plus provide a sign indicating the parking space was by permit for the named business during business hours.
Tony Gurski agreed he would like to provide an unloading zone for businesses, which could possibly only be used an hour each day.
"I want to be business friendly," Gurski said, "but fair to everybody else."
"(You're) opening a can of worms," Fickinger said. "It will take up too many spaces."
Although Zimmerman did not agree or disagreed, he recommended that whatever is done, the council must stick to.
It was finally agreed Chief Thomas Trotter would contact some of the businesses for their ideas or opinions.
The police department April report lists nine criminal, two juvenile and 11 traffic arrests; six traffic warnings; 11 parking tickets; and 62 incidents. The incidents involve domestic disputes, burglaries/thefts, stolen vehicles, terroristic threats, harassments, children and youth welfare checks, motor vehicle accidents, traffic stops and assists to other police and fire departments and the Emergency Management System.
The Hose, Hook & Ladder Fire Company responded to a structure fire, a motor vehicle with entrapment, a medical assist, a brush fire, an automatic fire alarm and a downed tree. In addition, the company responded to two vehicle accidents and provided four helipad supports. Four each of the incidents took place in Pine Grove borough and Washington Township, three in Pine Grove Township and one in Tremont borough.
The North End Fire Company responded to one each structure fire, automatic fire alarm, motor vehicle accident, Emergency Management System assist, and downed tree, plus two brush fires and five landing site set ups.
Of the calls, four each were in Pine Grove borough and Washington Township, while two each were in Pine Grove and Tremont townships. One entire company fire drill was held during the month.
