Clarion OKs start of reduced stormwater project

Clarion News editor

Clarion Borough Council opted this month to move ahead with a scaled-back stormwater drainage improvement project, awarding a $213,582 contract to Terra Works Inc. of Clarion.

The approved work will take place along Boundary Street and Tippin Drive.

Work along Sunset Drive and Whitehall Place, however, will have to wait.

Clarion Borough Projects Manager Todd Colosimo said the borough is about “$44,000 short” of being able to complete all of the work.

The approved work is being financed by a Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Project grant through the state Department of Community Economic Development.

The grants can be used for the construction, improvement, expansion, or rehabilitation or repair of a water supply system, sanitary sewer system, storm sewer system, or flood control projects.

Councilmember Ben Aaron, chair of the council’s public works department, also serves on the board of the Clarion Borough Storm Water Authority.

Aaron suggested, and the council agreed, to check with the stormwater authority board to determine how to proceed with the remaining needed work.

Council also gave its approval to a request from Clarion Blueprint and the Second Avenue Park Project committee to tie new drainage basins and pipes into the borough’s stormwater management system.

Councilmember and park project committee member Brenda Sanders Dede said work on developing the infrastructure for the park along Second Avenue is underway.

Council also approved the rental of a vacuum truck from A&H Equipment for one month at a cost of $8,000.

The cost to the borough will be reimbursed by the stormwater authority.

The truck is used to clean out debris, dirt, and mud from the stormwater system.

Clarion Borough Maintenance Supervisor Doug Preston said the truck pulled “a lot” of potential drain clogging material from the system and “was well worth the cost.”

In other business, council:

• Approved a request from Cub Scout Pack 51 for a street closure along Jefferson Place (between Veterans Park and S&T Bank) from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 12 subject to any restrictions in place at the time of the event.

• Approved a request from the Clarion County Coalition for Suicide Prevention for traffic control of its awareness walk at 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9.

• Approved a request from Clarion Area Elementary PTO for a street closure of North Second Avenue from Main Street to Madison Road from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 11.

• Approved a resolution reducing the police pension contributions from 5 percent to 0 percent for 2022. This is a routine action when the pension plan is fully funded. The contribution amount is adjusted each year.

• Approved the minimum municipal obligation for the Clarion Borough Police Pension Plan for 2022 in the amount of $27,116.

• Approved a resolution reducing the general employees’ pension contributions from 5 percent to 2.5 percent for 2022. This is a routine action based on the fund’s status. The contribution amount is adjusted each year.

• Approved the minimum municipal obligation for the Clarion Borough General Employees’ Pension Plan for 2022 in the amount of $60,450.