Mill Hall resident: Stormwater runoff needs addressed; Council moves to fill in Mill Hall pool
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MILL HALL -- Stormwater problems, the future of the Mill Hall pool and concerns about development were among the issues discussed during Mill Hall Borough Council's Aug. 25 meeting.
Mill Hall resident Christina Stitzer addressed council about significant water runoff she said began after a parking lot was constructed near her home. Stitzer said the grading of the parking lot has caused water to flow toward her property during rainstorms.
"Every single time it rains, I am getting significant amounts of water," Stitzer said. "If it rains for 10 minutes, we need muck boots to get from our front door to our car."
She said the problem has become particularly concerning because renovations recently began on her home.
Stitzer said water has entered her basement during heavy rainfall, requiring her family to purchase pumps, and she is concerned about potential damage to newly installed flooring and other renovations.
Another resident asked council for help with a long-standing drainage problem involving a catch basin and deteriorating borough pipes near his property.
He said portions of the drainage system have deteriorated and water is now moving beneath pipes on his property.
The discussion centered on whether the borough should replace deteriorated sections of pipe and how access could be obtained if the work required crossing private properties.
Council members said the issue would be discussed further during the borough's sewer and highway committee meeting Sept. 14.
Council President Derek Berry told the resident the borough would continue looking for possible solutions.
"The best that I can tell you right now is be patient," Berry said. "We're going to talk about it at the Sewer Highway meeting, start bouncing ideas around, see if we can't come up with some sort of solution."
Council members also stressed that questions involving private property ownership or privately installed drainage pipes may ultimately be civil matters between property owners.
A major portion of the council meeting focused on the future of the Mill Hall Community Pool.
Council approved moving forward with having Stiffler McGraw complete the DEP permit necessary to fill in the pool.
The decision followed an appeal from Beyond the Bell president Marlene Gladden who asked council to delay the project for 120 days to explore additional funding and potential partnerships.
Gladden, speaking on behalf of those seeking to preserve the pool, said the facility has significance well beyond Mill Hall.
"This is a community resource that reaches far beyond Mill Hall," she said. "It was a big part of my childhood. It's a big part of a lot of people I know's childhood."
She asked council to allow 120 days to investigate additional grants, business sponsorships, nonprofit partnerships and potentially leasing arrangements.
"We're just asking for 120 days to explore where you're at," she said. "Where's the funding at? Can it be transferred? Can you partner with a nonprofit to get more funding?"
She acknowledged that the project could require millions of dollars but said the group was willing to help raise additional money.
Council members, however, said the borough had already exhausted numerous funding avenues and had returned donations because of the decision to close the pool.
Borough Secretary April Bittner said the borough had pursued federal, state and local grants and worked with legislators and businesses but could not close the remaining financial gap.
Council members also noted that the pool's location in a floodway creates additional limitations on what can be done with the property.
Members also expressed concerns that repairing the existing pool could ultimately cost significantly more than initial estimates.
Council members said the borough does not intend to simply turn the pool property into a parking lot.
Instead, officials plan to seek community input on potential future uses, which could include recreational facilities or other amenities compatible with the floodway restrictions.
Beyond the Bell and the community is encouraged to attend the borough's Sept. 9 Park and Recreation Committee meeting to continue discussing possibilities.
"If you have a genuine sentiment about doing something and keeping something in the area for the youth, I would like to invite you to that as well," Berry said.
In other business, council approved the following ordinances/resolutions:
-- Ordinance 2026-06 relating to off-street parking.
-- Ordinance 2026-07 relating to outdoor burning.
-- Resolution 2026-13 relating to the borough's noise ordinance.
-- Resolution 2026-12 relating to Hynerpeton support.