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MILL HALL -- The Mill Hall Borough Council convened its regular meeting Tuesday evening, Feb. 24, to address a full agenda of ordinances, community requests and infrastructure matters.
Pump Station Sale and Infrastructure
Decisions
On recommendation of the Sewer/Highway Committee, council considered approving Resolution 2026-09 to advertise the sale of a borough pump station in the newspaper and on Municibid.
The property, located opposite Tractor Supply Co., has been abandoned for roughly 10 years according to Mill Hall Police Chief Brandon Coleman.
The property has been listed before, Secretary April Bittner told The Express, but has not received any bids.
Councilmember Tony Walker raised the question of why council would go through the process again after no bids previously.
"We already went through the motions of this a while back," said Walker, raising concern over the cost of publishing the property again.
The building that is left on the property is the main concern for the borough as it raises liability concerns following excessive vandalism.
Public works employee Kevin Hoy explained to council the remaining property at this time is a shell.
"People have gone in there and taken almost everything of worth out of it," said Hoy, suggesting public works may be able to look into taking the building down themselves.
At this time, council has decided to hold off on publishing the property again in the paper and on Municibid as they wait for prices on removing the building.
The sewer/highway committee will continue to discuss plans moving forward at their March 6 meeting.
Ordinance updates
Under unfinished business, council considered Ordinance 2026-01, which would reduce the borough's Planning Commission from seven members to five.
The proposal came on the recommendation of the Ordinance Committee following discussion last month on position retention.
The Ordinance Committee recommended the borough solicitor Paul Ryan draft an agreement between the borough and Tom Smith, owner of the Valley Hotel, and Clint Smith to cover costs associated with creating a proposed noise ordinance.
Council also considered authorizing Ryan to amend penalty provisions in existing snow removal and grass/weeds ordinances.
Under the proposed changes, the minimum fine for snow removal violations would increase from $50 to $100, with a maximum fine of $300 plus costs.
Violators could face up to 30 days imprisonment in default of payment, and each day of continued violation would constitute a separate offense.
For grass and weed violations, the proposed amendment would increase the minimum fine from $25 to $75, with penalties up to $600 plus costs.
As with the snow ordinance, each day of continued violation would be treated as a separate offense, and no notice to the offender would be required to establish an offense.
Summer Events Approved
Council also reviewed several requests related to upcoming community events and facility use. Members considered approving the Iron Man Competition scheduled for Sunday, June 14, 2026, which would route participants through Mill Hall using Beech Creek Avenue and Water Street. The borough police department would provide traffic control during the event.
Council also considered granting Mill Hall Elementary School use of the Mill Hall Community Park on May 28 for its end-of-year field trip, with a rain date of June 2. The school requested use of all park pavilions.
Additionally, council reviewed a request from KCSD Central Mountain Baseball to use the borough's large baseball field for practices and games from March through June 2026.
With the use of the baseball fields, Councilmember Michelle Kunes requested a meeting be set with the coaches to discuss any issues that may have come up last year, including parking.