Board trouble to tacos top the talk

While one borough saw trouble in its boards, the other saw new restaurants.

Slatington borough saw multiple changes in its board and appointees this year before an election ever took place.

Longtime council member, Robert Steets vacated his board seat at the top of the year. The only resident to show interest in filling the role was Melvin Gildner, who was sworn in during February’s meeting.

At March’s board meeting, Gildner along with council member Joe Wechsler, Jon Rinker and David Schnaars banded together to vote then-president Gwyneth Jones out of her leadership role to replace her with Schnaars.

Jones resigned via letter the next day.

During April’s meeting, resident and business owner Jason Ruff faced-off with two residents before being voted into the vacancy Jones left behind.

At the close of the year, a write-in campaign was waged for three expired term seats on the council. Ruff along with member Bryon Reed will retain their seats and be joined by former board members Russell Hallman and Daniel Stevens. Hallman and Stevens will replace Gildner and Rinker.

Following the hiring of borough manager Judith Danko in January, borough zoning/building code official Duane Dellecker and code enforcement officer Clark Ritter both submitted resignation letters. Dellecker had worked for the borough for close to 10 years.

In her role as manager, Danko has focused on ironing out the results of the 2016/17 annual audit.

Several financial discrepancies reaching half a million dollars were brought to light by the findings of auditing company Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits LLP. The mislabeled funds and various other noncompliance issues in the initial audit dates back three years.

The borough was able to secure a state grant to repair its aging sewer system. Work will begin next year to repair and update the digester at the sewer treatment plant.

And Main Street Merchants, a newly-formed committee, have concentrated on reviving the historic Main Street district with First Friday events all year round. The committee joined forces with the local chapter of the Chamber of Commerce to entice residents out into local businesses and enjoy the activities and history of the town.

Walnutport borough will complete its fast-food trifecta around the traffic light on Main Street as the Taco Bell construction wraps up. The eatery joins McDonald’s and Burger King, replacing the two-decades old Valley Pizza. The pizzeria was demolished before winter set in and Taco Bell’s signage and preliminary construction have been built at the 502 Main St. address.

Walnutport acquired close to $4 million in grant funding for a newly-constructed $200,000 salt shed, updated canal locks, $90,000 of street repair work, and $120,000 for a Freightliner dump truck.

In September, the Walnutport Borough Playground Association hosted its second annual baseball versus softball games to help raise funds for the Blue Ridge Chapter of Dream Come True. The game raised $6,000.

For its first ever community Christmas event, residents adopted 28 trees for the first tree lighting held in early December.