For the Shippenville Borough Council, finding answers regarding the recently dissolved Shippenville/Elk Ambulance Service is very important before they can move forward.
The council discussed the issue at its regular monthly meeting Feb. 8.
The biggest question the council has concerns what happened to the money the council donated to the Shippenville/Elk Ambulance Service over the years.
In January, the council agreed to have the Knox Ambulance Service become the EMS provider for the borough. Borough Council President Linda Duffee and council member Michael Petronzio joined the Knox Ambulance Service board.
Duffee wants to make sure the finances from its previous ambulance service were in good standing before moving forward with the Knox service.
According to Duffee, the Knox Ambulance Service got the names of all those who were members of the Shippenville-Elk Ambulance Service and would be sending out membership applications for the Knox service to those customers. Duffee hopes the customers from Shippenville-Elk join the Knox service.
Duffee also informed the council the Knox Ambulance Service was moving from its building on Main Street in Knox to the former Penelec building on Petrolia Street. Duffee said the new facility will be larger with an area for those working the overnight to sleep. Duffee said the EMS workers had to sleep in chairs in the office.
Along with Shippenville, the Knox Ambulance Service added Elk Township and Washington Township to its coverage area. The Knox service also has a coverage agreement with, Knox Borough, Ashland Township and Beaver Township. Previously, Knox Borough, Beaver Twp. and Ashland Twp. split paying for the ambulance services three ways. According to Duffee, the utilities will be split six ways and each municipality will pay an equal share with the bill coming at the end of the year.
Duffee urged the council to try and come up with fundraising ideas for the Knox Ambulance Service.
Unopened alley needs to ‘bee’ free
Borough secretary Jacqui Blose informed the council Austin Wise, who purchased a property along Railroad Street last summer in order to open a honey bee farm for Steve’s Bees, had his property surveyed and discovered a 20-foot unopened alley running through his property and he is requesting the borough abandon the unopened alley which runs through his property.
“If we start that we will open up (a can of worms),” Duffee said.
Duffee feels there is no need for Wise to have possession of the alley.
“That alley that runs through his property is not making him or breaking him no matter what,” Duffee said. “Because he can use it as his own but it gives us the right-of-way if we ever have to do anything.”
“He can’t build on it,” council Vice President Mike Cotherman and council member Chuck Knight said in unison.
“Do you think he wants to build on that alley?” Duffee asked.
“I would say he does,” Blose responded.
“I would tell him no,” Knight said.
Duffee explained to the council there were unopened alleys between most of the streets in town. She further explained the alleys were put there when the town was founded to use for those using horse and carriage or for emergency vehicles to get access to the properties.
“Unless (Wise) can come up with an extremely valid reason financially like jobs, tax revenue for him (to need ownership of the alley) but like Linda said, once you do it once, you’re going to have to do it for everyone,” Cotherman said.
The Shippenville council will meet March 8 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.