Council introduces temporary construction easements for sinkhole repairs after resident questions costs

The Scranton City Council introduced an ordinance to ratify and authorize temporary construction easement agreements for parcels at 2709 Jackson Street and 8 Fawnwood Drive for a sinkhole repair project. The item was introduced into its proper committee (item 5c) after a motion and second.

During public comment earlier in the meeting, a resident who had inquired about the agenda asked whether council members had any idea of the project's cost. The meeting record indicates the cost for the sinkhole repairs was not specified in the agenda backup and a resident asked whether there was a cap on spending. The transcript shows the item’s backup was limited; council and staff said they would follow up and provide additional information.

The motion to introduce item 5c carried after the question-and-answer exchange. The meeting record does not include an estimate of the cost, a contract award, or a spending cap for the sinkhole repairs; the administration said some supporting details were not included in the meeting backup and said it would provide additional information to the resident.

Separately during public comment a resident raised an immediate safety concern about a nearby dilapidated structure described as a 30-foot wooden pole and elevated structure that posed a hazard to adjacent properties; staff said the property may be on a demolition list but no timeline for demolition had been provided.

The council did not vote to authorize repair spending at the meeting; the action recorded was introduction of the easement ordinance into committee for review.