Residents press Beaver Borough Council on snow removal as storm costs mount

Residents told Beaver Borough Council on Feb. 10 they want better communication and planning for heavy snow events after a recent storm left some driveways and curbside parking blocked.

At the meeting, Ellen Kretchmar (Ward 2) complained about borough communications during the response and asked that a crosswalk grant be placed on the agenda for public input. Resident Kellie Geehan of 1037 5th Street pressed Borough Manager Dan Madgar for a concrete plan for future heavy-snow events and said plowed snow had blocked resident parking.

Madgar, who also serves as chief of police and borough manager, said the four Road Department employees worked a total of 319 hours of overtime during the recent storm, resulting in nearly $20,000 in overtime pay and roughly $20,000 in road salt expenses. He said borough crews prioritized main streets and the business district and that contracting with outside firms was considered but found to be costly. Madgar added that permanently increasing staffing for infrequent storms could require higher taxes and encouraged residents to contact the borough when they need assistance.

Councilor Margaret McKean suggested exploring equipment-sharing agreements with neighboring municipalities and creating a registry of residents with snow-removal equipment who might assist during major storms.

Why this matters: snow response affects public safety, access to homes and businesses, and borough finances. Council took public comment and asked staff to continue reviewing storm-response practices with the Road Foreman; residents requested that related grant items be scheduled for public input when available.