TOWER CITY - Raising the minimum wage could mean the difference between local kids swimming or not swimming this summer in Tower City.
According to Tower City Recreation Board Chairwoman Bonnie Raho, the increase being discussed could add between $2,000 to $3,000 to the $10,628 payroll for lifeguards and concession stand workers at the community's swimming pool.
Raho attended the Tower City Borough Council meeting March 10 and presented the pool's 2013 financial report. Although the total balance as of Jan. 1 was $9,831.87, most of that will be needed to make necessary repairs, some of which were caused by vandalism, Raho said.
Raho said the board will not be receiving donations it has counted on in the past.
She said Pastor Edward Go-brecht has retired and moved out of the area. The pastor had run adult aerobics and a swim a-thon, both of which brought in more than $700 in 2013. Another donation from the Williams Valley Elementary 21st Century Club, a summer program, amounted to $700 and is not a certainty since it depends on the weather.
Bad weather also played a part in the Old Home Week profits. The donation, which usually amounts to $2,500, is not expected from the committee this year.
According to Raho, the recreation commission began 2013 with a balance of $11,562.84, but ended with a lesser amount. Total expenses for the year were listed at $31,763.18, with lifeguard and concession stand salaries being the largest expense.
Although the pool is located in Tower City, residents from neighboring municipalities are welcome. According to Raho, residents from both Williamstown and Williams Township make up about half of the total attendance.
"There's a large number of kids coming from both areas for swimming lessons," Raho said.
The report listed a donation of $3,500 from Tower City borough and $4,000 from Porter Township. However, none were listed from Williamstown or Williams Township.
Complaint
Only one complaint was received about snow removal. A resident said that the snow was only piled six inches high on one side of his street, while the other side had piles three feet high over the culverts.
Roads and Borough Property Committee Chairman Harold Reiner offered no explanation, but he questioned whether the council wanted to order more salt. Mayor Dan Daub suggested the council "go for patch."
"We're gonna need it," Daub said.
Since spring is right around the corner, Bob Shuey's suggestion that Secretary Irene Dubbs contact the street sweeper and set up the second week of May for cleaning up the main streets was approved. Not any earlier, he said, since one year the crew had to spread cinders after the sweeping was done.
'Stumpy' Brown Block
A discussion was held about a request from the mayor on behalf of the Les Brown Festival Committee, who wants to place a sign denoting the 900 block of East Grand Avenue as " 'Stumpy' Brown Block." According to Daub, Clyde "Stumpy" Brown, 88, was born in that block and plans to attend the festival to be held from April 11 to 13. Brown, brother of Les Brown, managed the band and Shuey said it would be nice to do this while the man is still alive. Although council President Bruce Schneck first said he would vote against it since several local sports figures were not honored, he agreed since the committee would be purchasing, erecting and maintaining the sign. The council members would only need to approve the location.
Police
The police report for February listed the investigation of 10 criminal complaints, one of which resulted in an arrest, plus seven drug investigations. In addition, 24 other complaints were received and acted on, while six traffic arrests were made, 18 traffic warnings issued and 17 parking tickets issued. The officers ran accu-trac 25 times, attended three hearings in Tremont, served four warrants, committed one person to the county prison, received eight ATV complaints and performed four medical assists. The officers logged 148.7 hours for the month.
In other business:
- The council discussed the "no parking" sign requested by Paul Dimon, owner of Dimon Funeral Home Inc.. A copy of a sign was provided by Dubbs, but the council felt it was not specific enough and agreed to discuss it again with Dimon.
- The council appointed Yvonne Adams as the borough's delegate to the Tax Collection Committee and solicitor Richard Thornburg as alternate.
- The council approved a donation to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in memory of Eugene Dubbs. Daub noted that Dubbs had served on the borough council for six years and attended council meetings on a regular basis.
"He'll be missed," Schneck said.
- Daub said he would be reading a proclamation from the borough during the Les Brown Festival dance on April 11.
- Replacement flags for the square were discussed. The council agreed it would purchase the eight needed, plus poles, once possible donations are known.
- Schneck said a state Department of Transportation crew had filled in the hole along Route 209 on the border of Tower City and Porter Township, which got bigger over the winter. A Community Development Block Grant has been approved for its permanent repair, although the grant has not yet been received. According to Dubbs, who is actually responsible for the "fix" has still not been determined.