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Council keeps watch on the energy market
Costs of handicap parking spaces also debated Monday
By GARY P. KLINGER
Ephrata Review
Published: Jul 09, 2008 11:34 AM EST
EPHRATA - Bracing for future energy cost increases, handicapped parking and other
business around the dams were discussed Monday evening at the Ephrata
Borough Council work session.
During the Municipal Enterprises
Committee report, Ephrata Borough Manager Gary Nace reported on the
condition of the natural gas market and on the general state of the energy
market.
"Costs are way higher than they were in the past. I'm not
sure anyone knows when we will hit the ceiling with the cost of gasoline.
It is the same with natural gas. Natural gas is not used much here in
Ephrata but it is tied to the price of electricity in the U.S. The reason
is that 90 percent of new generation facilities are fueled with natural
gas. There is more coal and renewed interest in nuclear and renewable
energy (such as wind and hydroelectric) but most of what is coming on line
is fueled by natural gas.
The bottom line is that costs are now
three times what they had been paying past three years. The borough did
move forward with the first of three planned purchases of interest in
AMP-Ohio in April. This association with AMP-Ohio would allow rates based
on cost rather than on market, at 20-25 percent under market prices.
Because of the run up in gas prices, no additional purchases will take
place until Sept. 1 when it is anticipated rates should be nearing a peak.
This projection should ring true if it is not a terrifically hot summer and
there is no major hurricane activity in Gulf of Mexico. If those two things
don't happen, that should open the window for more purchase in early
September.
***
During the report of the Highway Committee,
considerable conversation took place regarding the fees currently charged
for residents requesting a handicapped parking .500space along the street.
Currently, the borough charges a fee of $200, which accounts for the cost
of having the sign made and lines painted to create the
space.
Council member Mary Schurr conducted a study of what other
municipalities charge. While most other local communities choose to not
charge for creation of such a space, Schurr told the council that the
recommendation would be for the new fees to be set at $50. Several of those
in attendance cited their disapproval with charging any fee at all. Schurr
explained that her committee did discuss why the borough should charge
something if the people asking are in need of such a space. She said they
had arrived at their decision because there is a cost associated with these
requests.
In addition, she indicated that since Ephrata has such a
large transient population, charging for these spaces might discourage
those who don't really need one or will need one temporarily. Schurr twice
pointed out that Elizabethtown charges $100 and Columbia charges $50. If
approved, handicapped persons would be charged $50 for creation of the
space and would not be officially assigned the parking space, meaning that
if another handicapped person with handicapped tags wanted to park in that
space, they could.
Council member Vic Richard voiced his concerns
about the fees. "It's a quality of life item for those who didn't ask for
the handicap," he said. He also pointed out that the state of Pennsylvania
does not even charge anything additional for special handicapped tags, so
he felt that they should consider not charging the residents of Ephrata. It
was also pointed out that there are few such spaces within borough
limits.
The hardship placed on handicapped residents in need of such
spaces hit home with Mayor Ralph Mowen. He told the council about a call he
had received from one citizen.
"The people who contacted me had to
do without the month that they paid the fee because they did not have the
funds to pay it. Most are on a fixed income and quite frankly I think $50
is plenty considering their financial situations.
Mowen's concerns
were also echoed by one of the resident who spoke up against assessing any
fees for these spaces. The mayor also pointed out that there is an
application process in place that would address Schurr's concerns about
frivolous requests for handicapped parking spaces.
Council president
Robert Good questioned whether going from $200 to $50 left enough money to
cover the costs associated with the spaces.
"We cannot assume what
each person can think on this matter; I'm for handicapped spo ... I'm just
asking, is this a fair amount? I want to be sure we all agree that this is
a fair price."
He repeatedly expressed that he was in no way against
the handicapped but that his reason for raising the question was to spur
debate among board members.
"There is a $200 cost to place [the
space]. There are additional costs to remove it when they move away," said
Good. "If someone needs a handicapped space, it seems that the spaces would
primarily benefit the applicant 50-75 percent of the time. I agree we
should reduce it but $50 may be too low considering the applicant will get
the majority of the benefit of the space."
Throughout the session it
was Good who continued to remind the council of its budget position,
stressing the importance of the borough living within the
budget.
.500***
.500Besides the lengthy discussion of
handicapped parking spaces, the Highway Committee reported intention to
award contracts for bids received for street milling and overlay on South
State Street, and for resurfacing of Tower Road.
It will also
propose council approval for the purchase of budgeted crack sealing
machine. Currently crack sealing is a service the borough hires an outside
firm to complete. With the purchase of the machine, this service will be
able to be done by borough maintenance workers, ultimately saving the
borough money.
Schurr, deferred to Nace to discuss details for the
proposed purchase of a new pickup truck with utility body. Nace reviewed
the costs and details of the truck which is proposed to cost $32,500 which
is $5,500 under budget. He explained that the truck being replace would
remain in the fleet for backup, being retrofitted for use as a sign
truck.
With the proposals to accept roadwork bids, and purchases for
the crack sealing machine and new truck, president Good pointed out the
significant efforts being made to stay on budget. As with all bids, the one
to be awarded for the Tower Road Project went to the lowest bidder, even
though that particular bid exceeded what had been budgeted. Good pointed
out, however, that bids on other awards were below budget, allowing the
council to keep its promise of living within its means.
The Highway
Committee will also seek approval for an ordinance changing parking
regulations on East Walnut Street at the intersection with Washington
Avenue to enhance visiblilty at the intersection. This had been done
temporarily to see how it worked. Since the effect of the trial were
positive, the committee will move to make the changes
permanent.
.500***
.500The Public Safety Committee reported
on a proposal to authorize a project to repair the Haller dams and paint
the mill exterior. Nace showed council schematic drawings on all three of
the Haller dams. Proposed cost to remove accumulated debris, repair damages
to the dams and paint the mill is set at $11,650.
Frank Hoffman
questioned council about the project.
"I thought we were going to do
away with these dams," said Hoffman.
Mowen said that proposal was
not well received in the community, pointing out that people down stream
were very concerned about raised water levels. Council member Dale Hertzog
asked that council consider cleaning up other areas beside the dam area so
that debris from those areas cannot make their way to the dam and undo the
work done there. Good said that was a possibility but that it would need to
be worked into the budget. The last time major work was done on the dams
was in 1989, with no serious work done to them since.
The Public
Safety Committee reported that the Civil Service Commission appointment
remains open at this time with no current candidates. Good explained that
both of the earlier candidates were no longer in the running. He encouraged
council members and the general public to assist with nominating a member
of the community to this important position.
Further information
will be posted on the borough's official Web site and council is
considering placing a notice in the newspaper with the details of the
position. Persons interested in serving in this capacity should submit
their name to Vic Richard or Gary Nace.
.500***
.500The
Development Activities Committee reported that it will recommend approval
of a stormwater management agreement for the Wilbur L. Zimmerman land
development plan. It will also seek approval for an extension of time to
record Lime Street subdivision plan, as well as for the Subdivision and
Land Development Agreement with Kreiser Construction. Ephrata Re-Uzit is
seeking a waiver on its land development plan for its new warehouse site
off Pointview Avenue; the committee will ask for approval. Approval will
also be proposed for renewal of the land lease with Morgan Corporation at
the rate of $1300 per month to park overflow trucks on borough land
adjoining their plant.
.500***
.500On a lighter note during
the meeting, word had gotten to Mayor Ralph Mowen that regular council
attendee, citizen Frank Hoffman had celebrated the occasion of his 80th
birthday and led council and those in attendance in a round of Happy
Birthday.
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