By BRETT KRIEBEL
Clarion News writer
Looking to better connect with the community, Knox Borough Council this month discussed the idea of creating a Facebook page for the police department.
Council member Carl Salser, chair of the public safety committee, raised the issue.
According to Salser, the idea for the page came from council member Caleb Gilliland, who was absent from the July 1 meeting.
“I know we have a website, but the younger generation is on Facebook a lot,” Salser explained. “It would be a place for the police department to say, There’s a road closure and it will be closed on this date.'”
Salser continued, explaining the page could be used to advertise Horsethief Days as well as include weather alerts for borough residents.
Knox Borough Police Chief Joab Orr said he was interested in introducing a Facebook page, but under some conditions.
“I like it for service announcements and community stuff,” Orr said. “As long as we limit the (readers’) posts.”
Council then discussed who would control the page, and whether posts and comments on the page would be open to the public.
Knox Borough Council President Jack Bish Jr., who monitors posts on Kahle Lake’s Facebook page, explained a moderator can monitor posts and delete them as needed.
Ultimately, council decided to table a decision on the introduction of a Knox Police Facebook page until its next scheduled meeting in August, where it is assumed Gilliland will be in attendance to shed light on how the page could be operated.
Horsethief Days
Horse thief committee chair Linda Runyan announced the next Horsethief Days committee meeting will take place on July 18.
“Anybody that wants to get involved at the last moment, feel free to join us,” Runyan said.
Runyan also noted the 2019 Horsethief schedule will include a wine, shine, craft and cider event on from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday Aug. 16.
Runyan said “Basketball Bounce,” a game featured during Horsethief festivals in the past, will return in 2019, “as long as we can find a civic group to take over the manning of it.”
Classic carnival games like sledgehammer will run from Tuesday through Saturday.
Council member Tom Goble mentioned the Scrubgrass Stitchers Quilt Guild based in Emlenton has requested a table during the festivities to showcase quilts and quilting applications.
Council agreed to coordinate with the group to obtain a table and spot during Horsethief Days.
According to Runyan, Knox Borough police will host a “National Night Out” from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Keystone Elementary School.
The event is free to attend and will feature family games, food, and music provided by C-93.
“We hope we can build community relations between not just the people of Knox borough, but the surrounding areas,” Runyan said. “We’re trying to establish a feeling of belonging and something to do among all kinds of people.”
In other business:
– Salser also asked that another notice be published in the CLARION NEWS reminding borough residents to avoid blowing mown grass onto public streets.
Such action not only violates a borough ordinance, but also state law.
– Council voted to allow Roy Troyer of McEllhattan Road to hook onto Knox Borough water service under the conditions of maintaining the meter pit and following the specifications of maintenance supervisor Jeff McCleary.
– During the budget/finance portion of the meeting, Goble relayed to council the expenses of street resurfacing and patching bills owed.
According to Goble, the resurfacing costs totaled $46,896, while patching came to $4,088.
To pay for the renovations, $17,000 was taken out of the overall $30,000 available in highway aid.
The remaining $13,000 is being left untouched in case it is needed for other projects by the end of the year.
A total of $15,984 was taken out of the borough’s general fund. The remaining $18,000 in expenses will be paid from the general PLIGIT fund.
– Salser asked council to close Huston Avenue from Beatty Avenue to Petrolia Street on Aug. 6.
The street closure will take place in order to allow volunteers to transport elderly or disabled event attendees from Keystone High School to Keystone Elementary School by way of side-by-side vehicles, where the National Night out event will take place.
Council unanimously approved the motion.