Point Marion councilman resigns because of move
POINT MARION — Borough council has accepted the verbal resignation of Councilman Kevin White.
White, who has served for the last 18 months, said he and his family are moving out of Fayette County. His last meeting will be May 21.
“All of the stuff I wanted to get done, got done,” White said at Wednesday’s meeting. He worked toward passing an all-terrain vehicle ordinance, drafting a rental ordinance and the re-establishment a police presence in the community.
“I would like the park to be secure before I leave, but that’s going to be a while,” he said.
Ways to secure the park — the centerpiece of the community — have long been a topic of discussion among council and borough officials; however, it became a matter of urgency in March when burglars broke into three buildings on the grounds and stole maintenance and concession stand equipment.
They also made off with breakers and ripped into the electrical systems, leaving bare wires hanging and cutting the main feed that provides electrical power to the park’s stage where live entertainment is performed. Vandals also gutted a hot dog roaster, removed its motor and tried to cut the electrical supply to the concession stand. The $9,972.23 from an insurance claim will cover the repairs to the electrical systems and replacement of breaker boxers, said borough Manager Art Strimel. The borough is hoping to replace maintenance equipment with whatever is left over.
The theft and destruction prompted council to contract the services of Southwestern Regional police last month.
Mayor Carl Ables said he had discovered recently that the thieves apparently used a key to enter the public restrooms, where they cut wires, stripped supply lines and made off with faucets and the thermostat to the hot water heater.
“What got me was they locked everything back up,” Ables said, speculating that the thieves either used a key hanging up in the concession stand or had a copy of their own. “We’re going to have to replace the locks.”
Borough officials said the park will be ready in time to host the 35th annual Albert Gallatin Regatta at the park, slated for May 24 and 25. Councilwoman Victoria Evans said that a church youth group volunteered to help clean up the grounds. By that time, the borough should have replaced some of its maintenance tools, she said, but anyone volunteering to help clean Saturday or May 17 is encouraged to bring tools of their own. Volunteers will work on a list of projects between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
New this year to the annual event will be a petting zoo, she added, and bands have been lined up to perform throughout the day Sunday, May 25.
“It’s the first year we’ve ever had to turn bands away,” Ables said. “The regatta’s coming along. Let’s hope we have good weather.”
Also at the meeting, Strimel announced that the borough had received a check for $200 from a resident expressing her appreciation of the borough’s road crew, who did an outstanding job keeping borough roads plowed of snow during the winter.
“In all my time here, we’ve never had this happen before,” Strimel said of the thank you card containing the check. “I spoke to her and told her she didn’t have to do that, that (the road crew) were just doing their job, but she insisted.”
Council voted unanimously to forward the funds to the three members comprising the road crew and let them divide it between themselves.
In other business, council:
n Approved the emergency purchase of two computers for the water department and the borough’s new code enforcement officer for a total of $777.
n Tentatively set a community meeting with representatives from Free Flow Power Corp. at the fire hall beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10. Representatives from the Boston-based company will be seeking public input regarding a proposed Point Marion lock and dam hydroelectric project.