DUBOIS – The DuBois/Sandy Joint Consolidation Board on Wednesday postponed official action concerning the DuBois City and Sandy Township fire departments jointly hosting this year’s DuBois Community Days festival.
The board explained its reasoning behind its postponement, which was simple: to give all parties more time to discuss it.
Currently, the DuBois/Sandy fire departments would like to jointly oversee and host the June festival event for the first-time ever.
However, Greg Gillaugh of TurnAbout Boxing—one of the 2024 DuBois Days’ host organizations—sought the continuation of DuBois Days with the fire departments’ support, rather than the departments’ revival of DuBois Community Days.
At several points, the meeting got very heated with accusations, counter-accusations and yelling between supporters representing both community events.
At one point, City Mayor Pat Reasinger attempted to close the meeting and end the verbal fighting, as there would be no vote on the fire departments’ request for now.
Reasinger then suggested that the groups meet and communicate with one another.
Supervisor Bill Beers sought for event plans to be brought back for public discussion at a future meeting.
Supervisor Barry Abbott also noted that he has hopes for a joint community celebration upon completion of the consolidation process and another for America250—an initiative for the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Abbott did say that Gillaugh could oversee these celebrations. He felt the 2025 Community Days plans—as a joint venture—was already going to “untie” parts of the DuBois community
Before the meeting got heated, several members of the Joint Board urged that it was time for the community to stop tearing itself apart so it could come together in unity.
Consolidation Work
Utilizing McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, it was noted Wednesday that DuBois plans to move forward with the process to abandon working with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC).
The City of DuBois was required to work with the PUC, as it sold water and sewer services to non-city customers. Once consolidation finishes, all non-city inhabiting customers will be under the newly-consolidated City of DuBois.
In addition, the Joint Board voted to approve the lowest bids for all parts of the renovation of the city municipal building. The resulting costs is near $5 million, with $2.5 million to be reimbursed through a state grant.
The remaining cost will be paid by the City of DuBois and Sandy Township through funds that have already been designated for the project.