Palmyra council approves Option 2 for East Ridge Road/Melrose stormwater work, to be paid from capital reserve

Palmyra Borough Council voted to proceed with Option 2 for off-site stormwater work connected to the Melrose development along East Ridge Road and to expense the cost from the borough's capital reserve.

Council members discussed three options presented by the borough engineer. One councilor said an earlier estimate had risen from about $17,000 to roughly $25,000 and that delaying the work could push the cost higher. Supporters said contracting the work could avoid taking public works staff away from other projects. Opponents and affected residents raised concerns that Option 2 could increase the amount of water toward a neighbor's driveway (identified in the record as Nan's driveway) and would not address water quality concerns raised by another resident, who worried runoff could move through a horse farm.

Staff and the engineer described Option 2 as an infiltration trench with a riser and outlet that will hold much of the runoff but will discharge during heavy events; speakers also noted that actual discharge volumes cannot be precisely predicted until the system is built and functioning. Councilors said Option 3 (seeking property-owner changes) appeared unlikely and Option 1 (repairing or replacing existing drain tile) would require further inspection with the borough's camera equipment, which is currently limited.

A motion to select Option 2 passed on voice vote with an explicit instruction that the expense come from the capital reserve fund. Councilors said they would coordinate inspections and contractor scheduling and asked staff to confirm funding and implementation steps.

The meeting record includes questions about responsibility where work crosses private property and public right-of-way, and staff said additional study and coordination with property owners will be required before permanent repairs are made.