City discusses airport, fire, budget, possible tax increase at council meeting

By Christopher Miller

LOCK HAVEN, PA – It was a full docket and a full house at the Lock Haven City Council meeting Monday evening. From the Zoom perspective, it appeared to be nearly standing room only as things pertaining to the airport, fire department ordinance, 2024 budget, and a possible tax increase were discussed.

The meeting started with representatives of AvSport of Lock Haven, a flight school operating out of Hangar One of Piper Airport, speaking on behalf of the organization.

AvSport presented what they saw as “erroneous dollar amounts” and discrepancies listed in the city council budget pertaining to the airport and their offices, storage units, and various hangars. In his rebuttal to such information, City Manager Greg Wilson replied that a clerk is assigned to the airport for keeping track of things such as hangar rentals and spaces, and that audits are completed each year and they are available on the city website. “They are not hidden, and they are not secret,” Wilson said.

Within the budget, expenses are not itemized on a per-unit, per-hangar basis line-by-line, but rather as “full numbers.” “We do not include in our budget what each individual person pays for their water and sewer bills, we look at it in aggregate,” Wilson said.

Further talks about the airport will be taking place beginning in January “with our new county commissioners,” council member Barb Masorti said.

Matt Rodgers of Hope Hose Company #2 of East Church Street spoke in regards to supposed incorrect comments by Lieutenant William Bailey of Citizens Hose Company and Chairman of the Fire Advisory Board and that some comments that were made were not of the Advisory Board as a whole. One comment made by Rodgers was that city employees such as paid drivers other than the fire chief should not be allowed on the advisory board and that the advisory board is to act as a “problem solver and dispute handler.” By definition, the advisory board is to be a liaison between the fire department and the city.

On the other hand, the President of Hand-in-hand Hose Company recommended that city council approve the fire ordinance saying that he is, “in agreement with all recommendations previously voted on by the fire advisory board” and that he “votes in the affirmative for all changes.”

City council heard from a member of the community regarding feral cats on her property within the city. Another city resident also spoke up about the issue, saying that his wife “constantly complains to him about the feces and smell in their yard,” and that “there is not one time when you look at my front or side windows and not see a cat.” They requested to speak and meet with the Clinton County SPCA who was absent during the meeting.

“We recognize the problem and you are not the only person dealing with this issue,” council member Masorti added. Council member Brinker said that, “the SPCA will not come out and capture an animal for you” and that, “I am sure the code or police officers will not want to come out and catch cats either, but we will need to work with the SPCA on the issue.” A general concern was presented for other animals smelling feces and picking up diseases from other animals.

City council also heard in-person from executive members of the Ross Library, and Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. thanking the council for including them in the budget in year’s past, and the current 2024 budget.

“An example of where your money goes to was how we were able to have a staff member help an elderly gentleman, with no computer of his own, navigate the internet to purchase a mobility device so he can fully participate in society,” Tammy, the library director said.

Holly Wilson, Manager of Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. thanked the council for the funds received to help promote events and with community revitalization. “The money you give goes to funding all of the projects we work on in the community to help better Lock Haven,” Holly said.

Council went on to discuss the possibility of a tax increase in 2024 for city residents. “$2.7 million is needed in real estate taxes to break even in the budget, we just don’t know if we will do a split millage, or a single millage tax rate to collect the needed $2.7 million,” City Manager Wilson explained. In a split millage, council member Conklin explained that there would be a 1 mill increase on land, and a 1.4 mill increase on improvements. Council is expected to vote on the 2024 budget next week.

Traffic light projects were discussed, and one was postponed for 2024. The city was awarded a grant to pay for part of the replacement of the traffic light at the intersections of North Fairview Street and West Water Street and Barton Street and Bellefonte Avenue, with the state paying for 80% and the city paying for the remainder of the Barton/Bellefonte project. Council recommended approving the Barton Street/Bellefonte Avenue project for 2024.

City Manager Greg Wilson also brought forth updated data in the ongoing city water supply issues.

“Currently the city is still hovering around the 70-day mark for water supply, and city council under the drought contingency plan was asking the city residents to reduce their water usage by 20%, when in actuality they have only reduced it by 7% currently,” Wilson said. “That is not significant enough and regardless of public perception, First Quality has reduced their consumption by hundreds of thousands of gallons daily, but residential customers still drive primary use, and reuse of water is the best way to conserve it.”

Wilson recommended that while waiting for your water to get hot, capture the wasted water for use in your coffee pot, and that the best way to save money is to “quit using so much water.”

“70 days is not that far away,” Wilson reminded the public.

Council member Rick Conklin reminded the public that the city manager is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the city, and that he offers direction, insights and suggestions to council. “Council is the legislative body, and Wilson came here with many recommendations from other areas within the state, even from former manager Marcinkevage, Wilson was the first manager we have had with the educational credentials behind him, and that he had served under the former manager for many years to see how the city operates,” Conklin said. “New management would work differently than others and have different focuses and results,” and that the city manager, “serves at the request of city council; he is our employee, and we approve the budget, not the manager.”

All council members were present for Monday’s meeting.