DALTON – At October’s Dalton Council meeting, Christine Dettore, regional adviser of Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Paul Bechtel, engineer of McLane Associates, presented updates about Streamside Park. Dettore said that based on a proposed budget of $1.3 million, the borough would be looking at $260,000 from the fall round of the grant applications to renovate the whole park.
“If it’s not something doable for the fall round, I will be back again to see if we can get something going for the spring application,” she said.
Bechtel said that he looked at the master site conditions of the park, including its use and potential as well as parks in other municipalities. He mentioned that 127 results came in for an online public survey through a program called Survey Legend.
“A lot of people use the park,” he said. “They think it’s well-maintained, but a lot of people do leave Dalton to meet the recreational needs.”
Bechtel announced the need for more wellness trails according to the survey. He talked about constraints such as the park’s proximity to the highway and drainage problems.
“The unsafe parking conditions were pretty noticeable when you have that many people there at once,” he said.
Bechtel said that he looked at the newly acquired property as potential for a nature trail. He said that McLane Associates came up with two conceptual layout plans.
“The first one we looked at and discussed was the removal of the tennis court and relocating basketball and pickleball at that footprint,” he said. “And when the current parking lot is on top, keep that as well as adding parking down the bottom.”
Bechtel announced the second conceptual plan, which was minimizing the vehicular pedestrian conflicts, new recreational opportunities, as well as park circulation, and connection to the bigger parking lot replacing the tennis court and basketball court. He said that a new basketball court and pickleball court would be located in the upper terrace, where the existing parking lot is located. He also proposed better infrastructure around the dugouts and adding a concession/restroom facility. He also proposed a bike-fixing station. He talked about possible ways to get infrastructure money, such as from DCNR or from the Fish & Boat Commission.
Bechtel then brought up the idea of using Sport Court for the surface of the basketball and pickleball courts.
“It’s softer and better on knees, and it’s something I have not seen in the area,” he said.
Council President Bill Brandt said that the presentation was ‘very impressive’.
“You did a lot of work there, a lot of thinking,” he said.
Dettore suggested that council obtain a grant this month for some of the matching funds.
“For our small communities next spring, we would go back to our tiers,” she said. “The tiers are going to change a bit but if a project of this nature, the next time Dalton wanted to bite off the whole thing, it will be a 50-50 match.”
Dettore explained that the fall round is supplemental with a 20 percent match for all small communities with no limit. She mentioned that there are ways to phase the project with help from McLane Associates. Bechtel added that there are opportunities to take some of council’s budget for it.
Councilman Jared Gard commented that even though he is leaving council, he worked hard to obtain the Novak property and suggested to go forward with this project.
“She (Novak) wanted to make sure that something was done for Dalton,” he said.
Dettore said that Countryside Conservancy will know by Jan. 15 whether or not the borough will be awarded funds.
“This is a project you will start next year,” she said. “If you wait ‘til spring, you won’t know that ‘til the fall. You’re not going into construction until 2024.”
Council decided to table this decision.
In his law and legislative report, councilman Len Peters read Resolution 15 of 2022, which approves and authorizes a request form regarding activities at Streamside Park and Platt Park. Council also approved the following resolutions:
• Resolution 16 of 2022, which approves and authorizes a 2 percent penalty finance charge on delinquents regarding the Dalton Borough garbage fee.
• Resolution 17 of 2022, which approves and authorizes a new form regarding the rental of the Streamside Park pavilion.
• Resolution 18 of 2022, which approves and adopts a procedure for consideration of potential grant application for Dalton Borough Council.
• Resolution 19 of 2022, which authorizes a local share grant in the amount of $51,843.65 to acquire a utility vehicle.
In her secretary report, Laura Kinney said that checks came in for the repair of the sidewalk in front of the Dalton sign in the amount of $11,500. She said that the tax collection board is in the amount of $288, which is due this year. She also reported that she received a check from the Dalton Sewer Authority for a grant in the amount of $176,171.
“We did put it in a separate account,” she said. “Basically, because this is not the only grant they’re (sewer authority) approved for.”
Kinney also said that Council received a second COVID payment in the amount of $62,370.09. She also said that Council received the Pennsylvania Utility Tax in the amount of $610 for the year. She announced the Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) for the police pension fund of 2022 to be $54,455. She said that the borough’s responsibility of that is $12,961.39. She mentioned that the Volunteer Fire Relief Funds to be $7,942.87, which was paid fully to the fire department. She said that the finance committee approved the two office computers to be updated. She mentioned that Council received $213,200 for the refuse account. She said that they will pay approximately $206,000 for liens received last year.
“We sent out about $200,000 worth of bills,” she said. “There are still a bit outstanding but we are making headway.
Kinney said that Council is looking at doing online payments for next year. She also announced that she received a phone call from the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees about arrangements next year about focusing on small communities.
“We can pick a day at a home game and have Dalton Borough represented,” she said.
In his public works report, Brandt said that he request property owners to place fallen leaves as close to the curb as they can for pickup.
In her zoning/planning report, councilwoman Elizabeth Bonczar announced the upcoming annual Dalton Halloween Bash, which will be at the Dalton Fire Company on Saturday, October 29 at 530pm. She also said that the fire company will support the annual tree lighting ceremony, which will be on Friday, November 25. She also informed that the bridge on Main Street has been painted. She then said that Bill Guest’s history of Dalton will be on the Dalton website.
“The planning commission would like to focus on our history,” she said. “I think it’s time to come to focus on our history, and the planning commission is going to be involved with that.”
In his solicitor’s report, Frank Bolock said that borough engineer John Seamans performed a boundary survey at the post office property.
“The next step I think id for the borough council to get the information, what is the fair market value of the portion of the borough land upon which the post office is constructed,” he said. “And also, what is the fair rental value of that piece of ground plus the parking lot, plus the access area.”
Bolock suggested a commercial real estate appraisal.
