PORT CARBON - According to borough engineer James S. Tohill of Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, the cost to repair the crumbling Mill Creek channel wall should be less than $19,100.
In his report at the July meeting of the borough council on Tuesday, Tohill said the council is in the process of trying to find the funding to repair the section of the wall, which is near the Port Carbon Post Office on Washington Street.
Residents reported the problem to the borough council at the June 10 meeting.
"It's roughly a 50-foot section. The part that physically collapsed is probably a 20-foot section," Tohill said.
In order to do the repairs properly, the contractor later hired by the borough will have to build the wall long enough to tie into stronger sections of the wall a bit further away from the collapsed area, Tohill said.
Last week, Tohill said he planned to get a quote from Arthur "Pat" Aungst Inc., Pine Grove. On Tuesday night, Tohill reported he had gotten a quote but recommended the council keep it confidential until the possibility of a project bid was decided upon.
Borough purchases and contracts more than $19,100 require formal bidding, according to Section 1402 of the Borough Code.
The borough council is contacting local legislators in an effort to find grant funds for the project. Since the borough does not have the funding for the project, the council could not give a timetable for repairs.
In other matters, the council decided to spend no more than $2,000 in borough funds to repair two storm inlets, one at Oak and Wood streets, and the other at Oak and Valley Streets.
The motion was made by Councilman Mike Quercia, seconded by Councilman Ray Steranko and carried unanimously with votes from council President Harold "Bucky" Herndon, council Vice President John Franko and council members A. Bernice Shirey, Andrew Palokas and Warren Thomas.
"I went out to look at the inlet at Oak Street and Valley Street and the concrete is deteriorating to a point where the sides can no longer hold the grate. The grate is bent on that. Personally, I wouldn't drive over it," Tohill said.
The borough also announced that it will have a street sweeper Friday morning on Jackson Street, according to Mayor Charles R. "Chuck" Joy. There will be no parking on both sides of Jackson Street from 7 to 11 a.m. Friday, Joy said.
In other matters at the July meeting, residents complained about stray cats roaming borough streets.
"This is in the section of North Coal," Joy said.
With a motion by Steranko which was seconded by Thomas and carried unanimously, the borough decided to look into ways to deal with the situation. This may include hiring a cat catcher, Marty Schrift, New Philadelphia, once the borough finds a shelter to take the captured felines.