MOUNT JEWETT — The $1.1 million dollar sale of the Mount Jewett Borough water system to Bryn Mawr-based Aqua America Inc. was finalized on Tuesday.
Borough council president Chuck Paar said that representatives from Aqua met with borough councilman and former water plant operator Brett Morgan on Tuesday afternoon for a final operations transition. Paar said Aqua is “officially taking over” the operation today, and the borough should have its money before Friday.
John Hayduk of Mount Jewett was hired by borough council on Monday as the new borough maintenance supervisor. Hayduk started training for his new position on Tuesday under the tutelage of retiring maintenance supervisor Rodney Peterson. Peterson’s last day is Sept. 8. Hayduk’s salary for his new position is set at $14 per hour.
Mayor Melissa McGuire reported that she will attend a meeting for local emergency coordinators at the McKean County 911 Center today with Mount Jewett volunteer fire chief Dan “Beans” Gustafson. McGuire said the meeting will cover their duties and responsibilities, along with the state required certification process.
McGuire also reminded the staff and elected officials that they will need to get recertified for the National Incident Management System (NIMS) certifications through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
She said borough employees and officials will have to get their IS 100b – Introduction to Incident Command Systems certification, and either the IS 700a – National Incident Management System certification or G-402 – Incident Command Systems for Executives and Senior Officials.
Meanwhile, Peterson reported the borough has received estimates for paving Poplar and Hill streets from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation municipal services representative Shawn Agosti.
The estimate for paving Poplar Street will be $38,460 and for paving Hill Street will be $28,500, according to Peterson. He said that if borough council advertised the bid that he would get with Agosti to work up bid packets to be sent out.
Peterson also reported the borough will have approximately 15 tons of anti-skid with which to start next winter.
Also, borough secretary-treasurer Barbara Harp reported that she and borough council vice president Wil Antrim met with John Marasco of Anderson and Kime about the borough insurance renewal. Harp said the borough will see an increase of 0.4 percent in premiums, which will cost Mount Jewett approximately an additional $5 per month.
Harp also reported that she received communication from Jeremy Morey, director of the McKean County Planning Commission, saying that he would like to try to obtain grant money for a new Kinzua Bridge State Park sign with a PA Wilds mini-grant. She said Morey wanted to have the blessing of borough council before pursing the new sign.
The next borough council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 1.
