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Ephrata committee recommends Council approve utility change orders, $30,000 GIS contract and pole-attachment agreements
Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting, the Municipal Enterprises Committee agreed to recommend Borough Council approve two change orders for the Circuit #4 rebuild, a $30,000 GIS support contract, reciprocal pole-attachment agreements, and to begin charging four previously free electric accounts for energy consumption.
The Municipal Enterprises Committee of Ephrata Borough met Feb. 17, 2026, at Ephrata Borough Hall and agreed to forward multiple utility-related recommendations to Borough Council, including two change orders tied to the Circuit #4 rebuild, a $30,000 GIS support contract and reciprocal pole-attachment agreements with telecommunications providers.
Mr. Haws provided required meeting confirmations, saying the agenda was posted at least 24 hours in advance, listed matters to be considered and was unchanged after posting. Committee Chair Richard asked for additions; Mr. Armstrong moved and Mr. Ochs seconded to approve the agenda as posted, and "the motion carried unanimously," according to the committee report.
On infrastructure, the committee reviewed Change Order #1 for the Circuit #4 rebuild, which would add another utility pole on the east side of State Route 272 just north of Cocalico Creek, and agreed to recommend Council approve it. The committee also reviewed Change Order #2, which would add span guys and anchors necessitated by the additional pole, and likewise will recommend Council approval.
The committee reviewed a GIS Support Services and Maintenance contract for 2026 in the amount of $30,000 to support the Borough's enterprise GIS environment across departments. The committee voted to recommend approval and requested that staff solicit competitive quotes for future GIS support to ensure cost-effectiveness and transparency.
On pole-attachment matters, the committee will recommend approval of the EAJA Pole Attachment Agreement and a reciprocal Pole Attachment Agreement with Windstream Communications in a form acceptable to the Borough Solicitor and Mr. Haws. The report records the committee's recommendation to forward those agreements to Council for action.
The committee also recommended that Council approve attendance at the AMP, APPA and PMEA conferences (no cost details were provided in the report) and recommended that the Borough begin charging the four holders of Free Electric Accounts for the energy consumption portion of their service charges.
Separately, as a discussion item the committee reviewed a request to use the Borough of Ephrata logo for the Borough Employees Golf Tournament benefiting Ephrata Area Social Services. The committee approved the logo's use and noted there would be no additional cost to the Borough.
Next steps: the committee's recommendations will be presented to Borough Council for formal action; the committee approved the agenda and the logo use at the committee level, and it voted to forward the listed contracts, change orders and policy change (charging Free Electric Account holders for energy consumption) for Council consideration.
