Council approves storm-line cleaning, digester lining, door repair and garbage-truck turbo; accepts staff resignation

The Mifflin County Borough Council voted to award multiple public-works contracts and approve equipment repairs during its meeting, using grant funds and borough accounts where specified. The council also accepted a municipal employee’s resignation effective Feb. 16, 2025.

Votes at a glance - Award storm-line cleaning and televising contract to USG for $32,002.90 (USG bid reported as $32,002.90). Outcome: approved by motion and voice vote. - Award digester lining contract to USG at $198,800 (revised quote reflecting prevailing wage, bond and insurance). Outcome: approved by motion and voice vote. - Approve replacement of a rolling steel door at the water treatment plant for $8,874. Outcome: approved by motion and voice vote. - Authorize repair of garbage truck unit 405 (turbo replacement) to be paid from the refuse account. Outcome: approved by motion and voice vote; estimated cost described as “probably north of $8,000.” - Accept resignation of “employee A,” effective 02/16/2025. Outcome: approved by motion and voice vote.

What was discussed and why: Public works and utilities staff presented three competing bids for storm-line cleaning and televising. Geier Brothers bid $53,615 (with extra cost for additional heavy cleaning), Mr. Rehab bid $46,005.80 (two passes included; additional passes billed hourly), and USG bid $32,002.90 with two passes; staff recommended awarding the LSA-funded contract to USG. The borough has $300,000 available in that grant allocation to pursue storm-line work, staff said.

On the digester lining project, staff said the initial September estimate was about $190,000 but the contractor’s revised quote of roughly $198,800 includes prevailing wage, bond and insurance. Staff reported permitting is submitted and the project will be bid once conditional approvals are received; council approved the updated contract award.

The council approved replacing a failing rolling steel door at the water treatment plant for $8,874. Staff described the door as at end-of-life and previously held together with temporary repairs.

The council added, then approved, a motion to repair the turbo on garbage truck unit 405; the repair will be paid from the refuse account. Staff said the truck needs the turbo replaced, that maintenance records are in order and that the cost will likely be “north of $8,000.”

Staff and council also discussed several parking-meter and municipal-authority topics in a nonvoting discussion: options to remove meters from specific lot rows and convert those rows to permit-only parking, reusing existing meter hardware elsewhere, and whether signage would be required at each space. Staff explained an asset purchase agreement had been drafted to transfer authority-owned assets to the borough (sale of assets for $1) and to eventually terminate the authority by resolution; council was advised the borough can set parking rules even if the authority transfer is pending.

CDBG and other funding: staff reported ongoing work on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and options for using about $245,000 in expected 2024 CDBG money, including possible partial application to fire-truck financing or related equipment; staff said the pot is expected in September and that the council previously discussed possible uses for fire-related needs. Staff also said they met state and federal funding contacts and are pursuing USDA and other grants for water and sewer projects.

Resignation: Following an executive session, the council voted to accept the resignation of an identified employee, effective Feb. 16, 2025.

Budget and next steps: staff indicated the digester and storm-line projects will proceed after conditional approvals and that the borough will request updated financing quotes for fire-truck options. Staff will return with contract documents and more detailed financing numbers at future meetings.