Strasburg Borough Council

October 10, 2023 Municipal Brief

At the October 10, 2023 Strasburg Borough Council meeting, Borough Council reviewed the 2024 Draft Budget, Capital Improvements Plan, and approved the payment of the monthly bills.  The Draft Budget does not show a 2024 real estate tax increase.  The major Capital Improvements Plan upgrade is the improvement of infrastructure and paving of North Jackson Street in 2024 and 2025. 

The Borough Manager’s report included 1) A Court of Common Pleas review regarding the sale of the old Strasburg Elementary building will be held on October 26, 2023.  If approved, Benchmark is hoping to have settlement before the end of the year with construction and permitting beginning in January 2024; 2) The Strasburg Borough Authority’s East Main/South Decatur water project is expected to begin on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.  Substantial completion is due by April 2024 but the contractor would like to finish by the end of 2023.  The Verizon cell tower, which will be placed on the Reservoir property, is moving forward.  The Authority is working with DEP to locate a new well source to replace the Old Springs.  They are also considering the sale of the property they own at 1305 Village Road; 3) A list of the Council-appointed terms that will be expiring at the end of 2023 was provided and they were asked to advise if there are any adjustments needed; 4) We are waiting for the final paperwork for the PHMC Design Guideline grant and have received a draft request for proposal for the project.  The PHMC and Historic Preservation Trust will hold a historic district inventory training at the Borough on October 28, 2023; 5) We are working with ELA and the Center for Watershed Protection to locate grant funds for the Eshelman Run Phase 2 project; 6) He is working with the Borough Solicitor on the Act 172 volunteer fire tax credit.  The Fire Company assigned a person to develop their process and the Borough Manager encouraged them to move forward because our Ordinance and Resolution need to be adopted before the end of the year or it would have to wait another year to go into effect; 7) The first 16 seasonal banners have been delivered and we are ready to move forward with the Hometown Hero banners, which will have a $250.00 sponsorship fee; 8) He contacted PNC’s real estate division and is waiting for a response; and 9) The Holiday Tree Lighting will be held on December 1, 2023 and planning meetings have been held with the staff, Woman’s Club, and Heritage Society.  Staff picked out a tree and draft brochures were distributed for Council’s review. 

The Police Chief reported for the month of September 2023, the Police Department had 367 calls for service.  There were 11 criminal arrests, 44 speeding arrests, 21 other traffic arrests, one parking ticket, 36 traffic warnings, and one accident.  He also reported that they started the Pink Patch Campaign, Chief Ferretti and the Borough Manager attended the Gettysburg Leadership Staff ride where they studied the three-day battle of Gettysburg and various leadership styles of commanders, assisted Every Mountain Outdoors with their half marathon on September 30, and announced that Officer Denlinger and his wife had a son.  He also reported that on September 22, the Department participated in a joint investigation with County Detectives, East Lampeter Township Police Department, and the SERT Team to arrest two men who were extorting/scamming money from a 78-year old Strasburg resident. 

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For additional information on this press release, please contact Borough Manager Steve Echternach at 717-687-7732 or echterns@strasburgboro.org