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Hollidaysburg to enforce permit, bonding rules after gas-company work leaves streets patched
Summary
Borough Manager Hunt told council the borough will require permits, bonds and a project schedule from the gas company after winter cold-patch repairs on Mulberry, Penn, Walnut and Allegheny streets sank. A subcontractor said paving will begin once asphalt plants open, likely in late April or early May.
Hollidaysburg Borough Manager Hunt told the borough council that the borough will require the gas company to follow the borough’s street-opening ordinance and to provide permits, bonds and a project schedule after utility work left several streets only cold-patched and in poor condition.
Hunt said the borough has received resident complaints about road conditions on Mulberry Street, Penn Street, Walnut Street and Allegheny Street after cold patch used last fall settled over the winter. "We're going to go back to following the ordinance to a tee," Hunt said, adding the borough will send a letter to the gas company attaching the ordinance and reminding the company it must obtain permits and a plan for restoring streets.
The nut of the matter, Hunt said, is timing and accountability: cold patch was a temporary fix and the borough wants bonding in place so it can require timely, borough‑satisfactory paving or use bond funds to finish work if necessary. He said the borough also expects proper advance notification so public safety, public works and residents know when projects will occur.
Hunt said the gas company subcontracts paving; he spoke with the subcontractor, a Tyrone firm, which told him Hollidaysburg is "first in line" for repaving but that crews are waiting for local asphalt plants to open. "Once the asphalt plants open and get up and running, they said they'll be able to come out here and do Mulberry Street and Allegheny Street," Hunt said, giving a likely window of late April into early May for paving to occur. He also reported the sidewalk contractor has been repairing sidewalks the utility work damaged and is working north on Penn Street from the Penn–Mulberry intersection, though weather has caused delays.
No formal action was taken; Hunt presented the update during staff reports and asked whether council had questions. Council did not vote on an enforcement measure at the meeting.
The borough said it will send the gas company a written reminder of the ordinance and expectations for permits, bonds and schedules, and will follow up with enforcement if the company does not meet the requirements.
