January 2019 Newsletter

Ebensburg Bulletin: January 2019 Summary

A Successful 2018

The Borough of Ebensburg completed numerous projects in 2018, including:

• Hiring a fifth full-time police officer.
• Updating Borough Council protocols and the Code of Ethics.
• Paying off the swimming pool debt three years early.
• Acquiring a blighted property and arranging a grant for its demolition.
• Awarding a new three-year garbage contract that includes weekly recycling.
• Constructing a mobile event stage.
• Designing an upcoming sidewalk project.
• Repairing the municipal building façade and bricks.
• Replacing a pick-up truck.
• Negotiating a new AFSCME labor agreement.
• Continuing the assessment of historical significance for historic designation.

Ebensburg’s Main Street Partnership Program

The Ebensburg Main Street Partnership is one of only 25 accredited programs in Pennsylvania. To maintain accreditation, the partnership must follow strict guidelines set by the National Main Street Center (NMSC). The program is supported by nearly 200 business members who pay an annual fee of $50. 00, along with profits and sponsorships from events. These funds support community enhancement projects and annual events such as:

• Art in Bloom, Farmer’s Markets, Wheels & Wings, Movie in the Park, Downtown Shutdown, Homecoming, Concerts in the Park, PotatoFest, Fall Foliage Ride, and Dickens of a Christmas.
• Volunteer of the Year & Volunteer Appreciation Night.
• Small Business Saturday Retail Promotion.
• Community Projects like the Fire Ring at Lake Rowena, Christmas decorations, light post banners, and wayfinding signs.
• Purchase and planting of downtown hanging flower baskets.

Businesses interested in joining can contact dkoss@ebensburgpa. com or call 814-472-8414.

Council Adopts 2019 Budget

The Borough Council adopted a $5,927,480 budget for 2019, avoiding a tax increase for the ninth consecutive year. Planned projects for 2019 include:

• Completing street resurfacing south of High Street after wastewater and gas projects.
• Installing showers in the YPCC restrooms.
• Replacing sidewalks and curbs on South Caroline, South Marian, and West Triumph Streets.
• Completing wayfinding signage along Ghost Town Trail.
• Replacing a small pick-up and dump truck.
• Converting Victorian streetlights to LED.
• Repairing the Tanner Street bridge.
• Replacing stormwater basins in preparation for paving following the sewer project.
• Concluding the formal designation of the historic district.

New Businesses:

• Brouse Chiropractic & Nutrition (South Center Commons)
• Seymour & Pettina Investment Consulting Group (South Center Commons)
• Nature's Farmacy and Goods (948 W. High Street)
• Farmers Insurance (318 W. High Street)
• Heritage Hospice (Magley Professional Bldg. )
• Pennsylvania CareerLink (300 Prave Street)
• Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (117 S. Center Street)
• Starbucks Coffee (Ebensburg Commons ALDI Plaza)
• Lemme Audiology Associates (Ebensburg Mini Mall)
• Taco Bell (Ebensburg Commons ALDI Plaza)
• Lifestyle Support Services (201 W. High Street)
• Yellow Canary Winery (Coming Soon! 623 W. High Street)

Ebensburg Borough Health & Wellness Facility (YPCC)

Located inside the Young Peoples Community Center, the facility offers cardio and weight equipment, personal trainers, and classes.

• Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am - 9 pm; Sat 10 am - 9 pm; Sun Noon - 9 pm.
• Membership Fees: Adult $30/mo; Seniors (55+) $25/mo; Student/Military $25/mo; Family (1 Adult & 1 Student) $50/mo.
• Specials: Purchase 3 months, get 1 free; 6 months, get 2 free; 9 months, get 3 free.
• Drop-in Rates: Daily Fitness Drop-in $5; Open Gym over 18 yrs $2.
• 24-Hour Access: Available for anyone 18+ with a Key Fob purchase ($10).

Other YPCC Programs:

• Bike Rental Program: Hourly ($8/adult, $6/youth) or full day ($32/adult, $24/youth). Helmets required for under 12.
• Pavilion Rentals: Three at Lake Rowena, two at the Borough Swimming Pool. Cost is $50. 00.
• Outdoor Skate/Hockey Rink: Located at Lake Rowena, open year-round and free to the public.
• Swimming Pools: The Borough Pool is heated, kid-friendly, and handicap accessible. Lessons and open swims are also available at the Central Cambria High School Pool.

Pool Rates (Opens May 25, 2019):

• Daily Admission: Adult (19-64) $6; Child (4-18) $4; Senior (65+) $4; Twilight (After 6:00 pm) $4.
• Resident Season Passes: Individual Adult $120; Individual Child/Senior $100; 2 Person Season Pass $160.
• Non-Resident Season Passes: Individual Adult $150; Individual Child/Senior $130; 2 Person Season Pass $185.

Wastewater & Gas Line Projects

• Wastewater Project: Work is nearly complete south of High Street. Paving and landscaping will begin in April. Work continues in the northeast corner, progressing northwest through spring and summer, with completion expected mid-summer. Customers are reminded not to work on their own sewer lateral until instructed by the Borough. A 35% surcharge will be applied to bills for those who do not bring their private sewer lateral into compliance by the deadline.
• Gas Line Replacement: Peoples Natural Gas will begin replacing gas mains and lines in February, starting south of High Street. The project will then move to South Caroline, South Marian, and West Triumph Streets.

Street Paving Schedule

Council has not resurfaced streets in five years to save funds for this expensive project. Approximately $650,000 is available.

• South of High Street: Streets will be excavated for gas line replacement and then resurfaced this fall.
• North of High Street: Sewer work followed by gas line work will continue throughout 2019. New sidewalks/curbs will be installed in spring/summer 2020, with resurfacing in Fall 2020.

Sewer Line Testing

The Borough is requiring testing/replacement of sewer laterals outside the main project area. Notices were mailed in March 2017 (deadline Sept 1, 2017) and August 2017 (deadline July 31, 2018). Beginning in May 2018, notices were mailed to customers within the project area, giving them six months for compliance. Six batches of notices have been sent so far.

• Requirements: Lateral must conform to current regulations, including a cleanout near the foundation wall and a viewport at the property line. If it fails pressure testing, the entire lateral must be replaced or made to satisfy air testing requirements (pressurized to 5 p. s. i. for 15 minutes).

Pro Disposal 2019 Holiday Schedule

• New Year’s Day: Tuesday, January 1
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 27
• Independence Day: Thursday, July 4
• Labor Day: Monday, September 2
• Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 28
• Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25

Spring Clean Up: May 2 & 3, 2019. Recyclables: Glass containers, steel/bi-metallic cans, newspaper, cardboard, corrugated boxes, aluminum cans, plastics (#1-#7). Electronics Recycling: Accepted at the Cambria County Solid Waste Authority (507 Manor Drive) Mon-Fri, 9 am - 4 pm.

2019 Sidewalk Project

• Phase 1 (March 2019): South of High Street, including 100/200 blocks of South Caroline St, all of South Marian St, and West Triumph St. Completion by mid-summer.
• Phase 2 (Spring 2020): North Caroline St, East & West Horner St, East & West Crawford St, and East & West Sample St.

Relaxed Winter Parking

Regulations are enforced only when necessary. Notices will be posted on the borough website and Facebook page. For those without internet access, call 472-8780 during business hours or press "5" after hours for a recording.

Retire Your Old Glory

A collection bin for old American flags is located in the Borough office lobby. The program is underwritten by American Legion Post #363 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4963. Boy Scout Troop 98 manages the program.

Ebensburg Tennis Center

• Winter Season: Lessons available with USPTA certified professionals Jamie Taylor & Brandon Statler.
• Memberships: Single $160; Family $210; Junior (17 & under) $65. Out-of-Town Single $70; Family $125.
• Fall/Winter All You Can Play Pass: Single $360; Family $550. Runs Sept 10 - May 19 (indoor only).
• Court Rates (Indoor): Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm ($25); 4 pm-9 pm ($27); 9 pm-9 am ($12). Sat-Sun 9 am-2 pm ($24); 2 pm-7 pm ($22); 7 pm-9 am ($12).
• Lessons: Private 1 hr $55; 1/2 hr $33. Clinic 1 hr $13; 1 1/2 hr $18. (Student/non-member prices are higher).
• Policy: Courts can be reserved 7 days in advance. Non-members pay an additional $4 court fee and can play as a non-member three times per year.

Tax Collector Corner

• 2018 Taxes: Payments for 2018 real estate taxes can be set up at the Cambria County Courthouse (814-472-1445). Per capita tax for 2018 is due from Berkheimer Associates.
• Address Updates: Residents who moved in 2018 should contact the tax office to update their address.
• Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:30 am - 3:00 pm. Phone: 814-846-4764.

Shovelers and Grass Cutters

The borough office maintains a list of residents interested in shoveling sidewalks or cutting grass. Interested parties can call the borough office to have their name and number added.

Ebensburg Community Events 2019

• HeartChase: April 27th, 9:30 am - 11:30 am (YPCC).
• 21st Annual ‘Art in Bloom’ Spring Art Show: April 27th (12 pm - 6 pm) & 28th (11 am - 4 pm) at Cambria County Courthouse.
• Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony: May 27th, 10 am at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
• 15th Annual Wheels & Wings: June 20th, 5 pm - 10 pm in Downtown Ebensburg.
• Movie in the Park: July 12th, 8 pm at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
• Downtown Shutdown: July 26th, 6 pm - 11 pm in Downtown Ebensburg.
• Ebensburg Homecoming: July 27th, All Day at Ebensburg Area & Lake Rowena.
• Concerts in the Park: August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th, 6 pm - 9 pm at Penn Eben Park.
• Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday, 9 am - 12 pm, July 6th - September 21st at Penn Eben Park.
• Cambria County Fair: Labor Day Week, Sept 1st - 7th at Cambria County Fairgrounds.
• 28th Annual PotatoFest: September 28th, 9 am - 5 pm in Downtown Ebensburg.
• Fall Foliage Bike Ride: October 6th on Ghost Town Trail.
• Ebensburg Turkey Trot: November 28th (Hosted by Ebensburg Area Running Club).
• 14th Annual Dickens of a Christmas: December 6th - 8th in Downtown Ebensburg.

Volunteering info: Call 472-8414. Website: www. ebensburgmainstreet. com