Jim Thorpe council to act on district’s bus parking request

Jim Thorpe Borough Council plans to act Thursday on a request by Jim Thorpe Area School District regarding bus parking during home football games.

According to Council President Greg Strubinger, the district is asking the borough to condone bus parking along 13th Street.

“I believe it is in the area where the bus drops off and picks up visiting team players,” Strubinger said.

Though buses have parked in that area in the past, council Vice President Jay Miller said he wouldn’t feel comfortable approving the request.

“I don’t know how we could formally say, yes that is OK,” Miller said. “If we have to get down that street with the firetruck, where are these people going to be, at the hot dog stand?”

Strubinger said buses have parked at the location without incident since around 2001. However, Miller said, nobody ever thinks of the worst-case scenario.

“If we have to get down there in a hurry, we’ll have trouble,” Miller, a longtime firefighter himself, said. “I’m not saying it will happen, but I’ve been doing this long enough to know it could happen.”

The school district’s request, according to Strubinger, was made because the parking suddenly became an issue.

“I don’t think they were ever questioned on it before, but now they are, so that is why they’re asking,” he said.

Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Memorial Hall in Jim Thorpe.