Continuing with our series, Gant talked to the municipalities we normally look at through our coverage. The base questions were the same for all, with some additional questions maybe thrown in by the individual author, if needed. The following topics were covered:
- What are some of the things that have happened in the last six months you view as your entity’s greatest accomplishment?
- What have some of your greatest challenges been the last six months?
- What goals have you met in the first six months of the year? Not met?
- What events/legislation/ etc. have impacted you the most?
- What are you looking forward to/not looking forward to over the next six months?
CLEARFIELD BOROUGH
Clearfield Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott sat down with Gant to discuss the questions she was presented with. Stott said she didn’t want the answers to be her opinion alone, so she consulted with Mayor Jim Schell ahead of our meeting.
- Six Month Accomplishments
Stott pointed to a number of accomplishments the borough has achieved these last six months, starting with the agreement with the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation for the Riverfront Development project. She also pointed to the refurbishing of Kurtz Park in East End.
Other projects included taking three years of CDBG funding and using it on stormsewer and paving in East End. Stott also pointed to no tax increase this last budget, the purchase of a police truck, a truck for the street department and a backhoe.
Stott also mentioned the decorative street lamps in the borough, the improvements to the fire and police stations, and new CVS and PGP occupying the once-vacant ethanol plant. Stott said those were not so much borough government accomplishments, but that they provided jobs and taxes to the borough.
- Six Month Challenges
“We have had some stormwater management issues,” said Stott. She clarified, adding that there are issues with infiltration and wet areas where the new lines were placed.
She also pointed to manpower vs. labor. “We’re spread pretty thin … overall,” said Stott. “You try to do more with less.”
On top of that, she said insurance costs have increased.
Stott also pointed at abandoned/blighted properties as a problem within the borough. She said three were removed from the list, but many more remain.
Stott, while pointing to the sewer project as an accomplishment, also pointed to road damage as a negative of the project.
“The roads took a beating from the sanitary project,” said Stott. She added it’s tough to figure out how to get the funding to repave curb-to-curb.
- Goals
Stott pointed to a figure quoted from the Clearfield Revitalization Corporation stating a 13 percent vacancy rate downtown. She stated it was a goal to improve occupancy downtown.
Stott also said balancing next year’s budge, while a challenge, is a goal the administration hopes to achieve.
“We’re still looking at Dorey and Daisy Streets to get paved,” said Stott.
She also said there is an effort in the office to work with some new software and hardware and see how it meshes before making a push to get more.
Something that hasn’t been accomplished but is still a goal is for the the sale of the 22 homes/properties up for judicial sale. She indicated this would also help with the problem of blighted properties.
- Events/Legislation
Stott pointed to the recently passed federal health insurance mandate as a point of concern for the borough. She said they have two collective bargaining unit agreements and they were unsure of how it would affect them. She also commented on the new EIT/LST collection that is now handled by the county.
“Preliminary research shows … they’re doing a very adequate job,” said Stott.
- Â The Future
Stott said they are not looking forward to balancing next year’s budget and insurance costs going up.
She said the borough is looking forward to future grants and projects, especially riverfront development. Stott also wanted point out the number of volunteers and the work they do in the borough. She said more and more people appear to be stepping up.
