Mount Union Borough Council welcomed a new council member onboard last week to fill a vacancy created by a recent resignation.
By unanimous vote, council approved Steve Pacheaco for the vacant Ward 3 seat, previously held by Gary Kuklo who stepped down October.
The term expires Dec. 31, 2024.
Pacheaco wasn’t present for council’s Nov. 9 meeting but did attend the Nov. 1 session where he said he wants to “make a difference” in the community. He said he’s lived in Mount Union for about seven years and is semi-tired, working as a CDL instructor.
Pacheaco was the only Ward 3 resident to submit a letter of interest for the vacancy seat.
The motion to appoint Pacheaco was made by Himes and seconded by Nicole Lippmann.
Kuklo, and his wife Carole before him, resigned after moving out of the borough.
Council took formal action on Aurand’s requests to authorize an emergency roof repairs for the borough building.
During the Nov. 1 session, Himes, Joan Rogers and Marlee Russell gave Aurand the go-ahead to move on the repairs, citing the critical nature of the request.
Aurand said repairs are already underway. She said the Ridge Valley Roofing gave her a quote of $3,500 and in the event of complications, a maximum of $4,500.
The motion was made by Himes and seconded by Shields and received unanimous support.
At the Nov. 1 meeting, Aurand said new damage to the roof was allowing water to leak into the building.
— the council passed a resolution, required by the Local Share Account (LSA) grant program, allowing engineer Brian Wiser to apply for funds on the borough’s behalf. Mount Union is seeking $261,000 for construction of a new salt shed, a project that’s been on the borough’s to-do list for years.
— Aurand reported the Mount Union Municipal Authority is also seeking LSA funds for the replacement of 33 fire hydrants. She said the authority is awaiting a final cost estimate. Applications for the LSA program are due at the end of the month.
— Resident Nathan Querry asked permission to tidy up along the borough’s Juniata River trail, focusing on clearing the pathway of branches, litter and other debris. Council gave Querry permission to proceed but Alec Brindle,vice president, recommended Querry not try to handle any major tasks, like removing the whole trees, and to report those situations to the borough instead.
Querry said he does a lot of hiking and said the views of the Juniata River from the trail “compare with anything on a state trail” and “are as fabulous as those on a postcard.”
— at Rogers’s suggestion, the council agreed it would be a good idea to start making audio recordings of council meetings. At present, the only recordings made at the meetings are either by borough secretary Taylor Aurand and recording secretary Vicki Cooper and for the sole purpose of drafting meeting minutes.
— the council approved of the employees Christmas party for Thursday, Dec. 21. Aurand noted the office will be closed the next day, Friday, Dec. 22.
— council approved an agreement with PennDOT for the borough to handle traffic signal maintenance.
— Sharon Viel, ordinance committee chair, said there are several ordinances and amendments the committee is working on and which will be presented to council for reviewing and adoption. The ordinances in question include overhauls to parking regulations and rules for skateboarding and recreational vehicles.