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Manager, fire chief summarize 2024 accomplishments, infrastructure investments and public‑safety upgrades
Summary
Borough Manager Keller reviewed 2024 accomplishments including lead‑service replacements, stormwater and paving projects, pedestrian bridges, LED streetlight installation and grant wins; Fire Chief reported a new HAAS system grant to warn motorists of stopped emergency vehicles and reviewed 2024 fire response and property‑loss figures.
Manager Justin Keller presented a year‑end summary of 2024 accomplishments to the Committee of the Whole on Jan. 8, highlighting capital work, service metrics and grant activity.
Keller reported public works responded to 1,999 work orders and licensing/inspections processed about 1,020 enforcement requests. The police department reported approximately 28,511 calls for service in 2024 (about 78 calls per day), and the fire department logged 1,655 calls in borough limits (a 12% increase from 2023).
Keller described infrastructure projects completed in 2024: phase‑2 lead service line replacements (surveyed over 500 locations and replaced more than 200 lines as part of a $2.8 million project), $1.7 million of water and sewer main replacements (about 1,000 feet each), an $800,000 stormwater arch repair funded by grants, 2.7 miles of roadway paving (about $600,000), installation of 100 LED streetlights, smart water meter rollouts and pedestrian bridge projects linking Riverfront Park and Memorial Park.
Fire Chief Steve Hand reported the department won a grant to install a HAAS (Highway Advisory Alert System) device for apparatus that will send a notification to Waze or Google Maps when a fire truck or ambulance has stopped ahead to improve motorist awareness. Chief Hand also reviewed 2024 structure‑fire outcomes: roughly 41 structure fires with about $35 million in potential damage estimated but actual reported property loss near $3 million, attributing the lower losses to firefighting efforts.
No committee votes were taken on the informational reports; staff said several paving and procurement items will be on Monday's council agenda for formal award or approval.
