Apr 8, 2014 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Borough Council’s long-running dispute with a former councilman involving the councilman’s dilapidated building on East George Street has been resolved.

Chris Watson, whose property had been an issue for council much of last year, recently demolished what remained of the building and has had the property leveled.

“I’ve only heard good comments from everyone,” Mayor David Jack said at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“It does look nice,” councilwoman Marianne Gideon said.

The property has been an issue with council since last April when residents began to complain the building was unsightly and dangerous because of a collapsed wall that left about a six-foot drop into the basement.

Carmichaels Borough police had cited Watson last year for the condition of the building, but in October, Watson received a permit to rebuild the structure. Watson served on council until December.

The permit Watson received for the building from the borough’s engineer would have expired this month. However, instead of proceeding with the rebuilding project, he had the building raised and the property leveled. It is now for sale.

In other business, borough street worker, Jim Petrone, reported he began patching potholes and hopes to have the work completed in a few days. He said he already has used about five tons of cold patch for the work.

After the potholes are filled, he said, he will begin sweeping streets.

Gideon, head of the grants committee, reported she had called Greensboro Borough to find out where it gets money to repair roads and was told the borough uses its liquid fuels money and Act 13 impact fee funds for that purpose.

Carmichaels has been saving its Act 13 money for road repairs. Borough secretary Brandi Streit said its liquid fuels money is used to pay for street lighting. Streit also spoke of a grant program she is investigating that might provide money of road repairs.

Gideon also reported she had been asked by a representative of the Hartley Inn whether Spruce Alley, behind the inn, could be made a one-way street. Council president Charles Walker said the borough could look into it, checking with other businesses that use the alley and looking at current traffic flow in the area.

Terri Laird of the Town and Country Garden Club of Rices Landing told council the club will again plant flowers this year in the town square. Laird noted the club’s work in the square had won an award last year from Pennsylvania Horticulture Society.

Laird also told council she is looking for information on the history of town square.

Councilman Ralph McWilliams questioned whether the borough enforces the 10 p.m. curfew and suggested police Chief Mike Gyurke be scheduled to work more night shifts. Jack said Gyurke, the borough’s only officer, does work some nights and he has seen him on patrols.