A Pearl Street resident spoke to New Cumberland City Council about an unsafe and unsightly property. Robbie Mick told Council the John Cottrill property is being used as a dumping site for scrap including old cars, batteries, machines and tires. Mick cited the State statute addressing the issue which prohibits such activities. Mick said the number of tires on the property should require a license. He also said there are children in the neighborhood and the property poses a hazard for them.
He observed that a dump site such as Cottrill’s often attracts curious children, “If they get hurt, who’s going to pay. I doubt if Cottrill has insurance,” he said.
Mayor Will White said the City is aware of the problem and has already began the process of ordering the owner to clean it up. He said that he and Police Chief Lester (Chickie) Skinner had visited Cottrill in September and requested Cottrill clean it up. The Mayor said they informed Cottrill a letter from the City would be forthcoming in the event he did not take action.
City Solicitor Kevin Pearl noted an ordinance is already in place to deal with the situation.
“He’ll just laugh at that letter,” said Mick.
“He can laugh all the way to City Court,” said Pearl.
Council also said a letter is being sent to Nick’s Towing regarding cars that are accumulating on that property.
The former Air building on South Chester Street, long a matter of concern to Council and residents, is to be torn down by the end of summer according to the owner. Mayor White said he had spoken to owner Ron Cross who said the building will be torn down and new siding put on a smaller building at the back of the property. Cross plans to rent that building.
After much discussion, New Cumberland City Council voted to approve change orders to the water project. The change order enables the installation of the water project to Eden Valley, specifically Madeline Street, which will include a curb-to-curb blacktop over installed pipes. Randy Watson, of Thrasher Engineering, informed Council that the order will total $81,500.00 with $14,000 to be taken from the current grant funds and the remaining amount from grant funds scheduled to be drawn down in July.
Council member Don Blankenship moved to table the decision, but did not receive a second. He noted that there are a number of planned projects in the works that may not be funded.
Mayor Will White noted that Council needed to take action and not wait a month. He reminded Council the grant money is free money and what is not spent will be lost.
In other business, Council:
**Paid monthly invoices of $65,174.26’
**Set the Spring Clean-up for April 22 and 23;
**Learned that Chief Skinner would conduct a Rt.2 road check and that the Dept. will begin towing unlicensed vehicles;
**Agreed to hire Neil Allison for part-time labor;
**Approved a bid of $8,865.00 for a condensate pump assembly for the boiler from Neuman Company;
**Discussed a document that will need the Mayor’s signature after it is totally reviewed stating the Citing doesn’t have the resources to move the water and sewer lines for the Route 2 road improvement;
**Learned that in addition to Memorial Day services, a parade, dance at the VFW and activities are being planned. The City has already committed to a float in the parade.
