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Mount Gretna Borough will need to build a new salt storage structure at the treatment plant, director of public works Bill Care said at the Feb. 10 council meeting.
The current structure was built in the 1990s out of wood to store around 100 tons of salt for the borough to use on the roads to melt ice and snow. Care said the wood is starting to deteriorate, and they will have to put something new together when the weather warms up in preparation for the next winter.
“The roof is starting to fail and it’s starting to rot, so we’re looking at an option of using concrete for the base of it and walls and putting a new roof on,” he said after the meeting. “We’re going to try to do a lot of it ourselves.”
Using the borough crew would save labor costs. They are also considering a shorter roof to use less material.
Care said he would review the various options over the next month and would bring a recommendation for the March or April council meeting.
“We’ll make it until the end of the year,” Care added. “After we’re through this season, we’re going to do something — once the winter season is over.”
Council president William Kleinfelter said it’s a necessary expense, but council members aren’t excited about the new bill.
“It’s going to be more than we want to spend, but we have to do it,” he said.
In other business, council:
- Unanimously approved an Emergency Operations Plan, or EOP, with Western Lebanon County Regional EMA. Care said the borough has worked with them for years. They’ve also done the emergency plan for the Mount Gretna Art Show in the summers, and they have done good work, according to Care.
- Briefly discussed several residences in the borough having water issues due to not winterizing their cottages. With much of the Mount Gretna population only living in the area seasonally, they said many do not take the proper precautions, and winter weather damages the pipes. No action was taken at the meeting, but council may provide information on the borough website or send it through the mail about winterizing to prevent home damage and water waste.
- Unanimously approved a short-term rental renewal for 304 Lafayette Ave.
Mount Gretna Borough Council will meet next at 6 p.m. March 10 at the firehall on Boulevard Street.
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