Borough to build new salt storage facility
By KAREN BITNER Echo Pilot

The Greencastle Borough Council voted Sept. 4 to go ahead with building a new salt storage facility despite an offer to share Antrim Township's building. During the public discussion period, Antrim Township Supervisor Curtis Myers told the board he would approve borough use of the township's building. "I'd like to offer our salt storage building to you guys at no charge," Myers said, noting that he knew another township supervisor who would also approve sharing the facility.

"Air is free," Myers said, explaining that the township's building was not filled to capacity. "I don't see why we can't share," he told the board.

Borough Manager Ken Myers commented that although the borough and township have occasionally shared salt stocks, he believed the borough needs its own storage facility. "We need our own building on site down at the garage," he emphasized. He explained the importance of having salt and equipment readily available to borough workers during winter storms.

Councilman Don Coldsmith noted that Antrim Township could soon build another building, since they have been planning to do so. "Their situation is up in the air," he said. "What if the new building goes through? The only sure thing is what you do yourself."

Ken Myers described the proposed borough structure, to be built near the garage adjacent to Jerome King Playground, as a 40- by 60- foot multipurpose building with 40- by 40-foot space for salt storage and a 40- by 20- foot area for equipment storage.

After further discussion the board voted to accept a $44,000 bid from Bryan L. Hey Builder, Inc., pending engineer review of the plans. Council agreed to consider having borough employees do the excavation and footer work for the structure, which would have been an added expense. While discussing the excavation, board member Chris Grimm questioned whether there was any history of rock in the area, to which Coldsmith replied with a chuckle, "If it's in Greencastle, there's going to be some rock."

In other action, council voted to fill a vacancy on the Civil Service Commission caused by the resignation of Vernon McCauley, who is moving out of the borough. Eckstine nominated Tom Pensinger, who was unanimously approved by the council to fill the position.

Council discussed hiring a Community Planner from Rettew Associates to perform a sidewalk study and analysis throughout the borough. After considering the costs of the study, which ranged from $5,750 to $15,000, council members agreed to invite a representative from Rettew Associates to a council meeting to describe the study and its potential benefits.

Member Harry Foley summarized Greencastle's 2006 financial report by Boyer and Ritter. The report showed a return of about 7.5 percent on borough investments, and recommended that the borough create a policies and procedures manual.

Council also approved four change orders related to storm drain work by the Charles E. Brake Company, Inc. One change order called for a $810 increase in the contract price due to the discovery of buried fuel tanks in the street near 112 South Allison Street. Another extended the contract time due to delays caused by gas company work and large amounts of rock. Two other change orders dealt with increased costs of work related to storm drains along West Baltimore Street.

In other business, Coldsmith advised budgeting $20,000 in next year's budget to blacktop unpaved alleys in the borough. Currently, he said, three alleys in the town are unpaved.

Borough manager Myers detailed the safety of bridges and railways in the borough, which he said are inspected annually, although highway and railway overseers do not release specific information due to security concerns. "Due to the tragedy in Minnesota," Myers noted, summarizing an Aug. 24, 2007 letter from PennDOT, "there will be a special extra bridge inspection this fall."