CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL 267 REGULAR MEETING APRIL 21, 2025 CALL TO ORDER The regular monthly Council meeting of the City of Saint Marys was called to order by Mayor Lyle Garner on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Notice of this meeting was sent to Council on April 15, 2025, posted at City Hall, and published in the Daily Press. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL Mayor Lyle Garner, Deputy Mayor Shane Schneider, Nedward Jacob, Anthony Gregory, Stephen Bagley, Joe Sarginger, Manager Joseph Fleming, Solicitor Lauren Brennen, and Recording Secretary Rachael Hughes. Jerome Sorg was excused. VISITORS Greg Gebauer, Leslie Swope, Richard Sadley, and Amy Cherry. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Nedward Jacob made a motion to approve the March 17, 2025 March 17, 2025 - Regular minutes, seconded by Joe Sarginger, and all were in favor. Meeting Motion Passed SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: Leslie Swope, Director of the St. Marys Public Library, provided St. Marys Public Library the following 2024 Annual Report: In 2024, the library recorded 63,432 visits to the facility which was open for a total of 2,435 hours. This equates to 26 people visiting per hour. The library offers 398 programs, and the attendance for those programs in 2024 totaled 10,890. There were 159 passive, self-directed programs offered with 7,537 passive program users. With an increase in programs, the library has seen its highest number of physical items going out of the building at 38,971, item circulation of 31,289 and interlibrary loans of 869. In addition, 9,306 eMaterials and 22,307 eBook products were borrowed. The only decrease that the library has seen is in the use of their computers at just 1,286. However, their Wi-Fi usage is at 15,738 as visitors are bringing their own device. She mentioned that the library holds regular weekly programs to include a movie club for adults and art classes for children. She noted the library budget for 2025 is $317,000. Of that amount, $103,000 is received through donations from the public, fundraisers, and through applying for and receiving grants. About one-third of the budget is raised each year, and in 2024, they raised $80,000. 268 CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL 21, 2025 Council thanked her for her presentation. City of St. Marys Emergency Greg Gebauer, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Management Agency Coordinator, provided the following information reiterating St. Marys City Ordinance No. 85 and the requirements for house numbers within the City. City of St. Marys Ordinance No. 85 was enacted in October of 1998. It states that it shall be the responsibility of each and every property owner, trustee, lessee, agent and occupant of each residence, apartment building, business or industry to purchase, post and maintain address numbers as required under this policy at all times. It shall be the duty of the above-mentioned, upon affixing a new address number, to remove any conflicting number. It shall be unlawful to cover any address number with any sign, drapery, or other obstruction tending to conceal such number. The address number shall be made up of numbers and/or letters which are not less than 4 inches in height, contrasting color with the background on which they are affixed, as near to the front entrance as possible and practical, SO that the number is legible from the sidewalk (if any), the road, and the opposite side of the street day or night. He stated that due to faded or missing mailbox numbers, first responders sometimes miss the house, SO they must call back to the dispatch center SO they can be directed to the correct location. Shane Schneider questioned whether Gebauer thought the Ordinance needed amendment and Gebauer responded by saying no he doesn't believe the Ordinance needs to be amended, just reiterated. Council thanked him for his presentation. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON There were no citizen comments on agenda topics. AGENDA TOPICS MANAGER'S REPORT I hope everyone had a great Easter yesterday. I wish to start off by thanking Leslie and her crew for the fantastic job they do at our public library. Also, I appreciate Greg for stopping in to remind residents of the importance of ensuring that their 911 address is updated and recorded. CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL 269 REGULAR MEETING APRIL 21, 2025 Clean up day for the City is set for this coming Friday and Saturday at the lower parking lot of Kaulmont Park. This is a great opportunity to clean up your yard or household. No commercial or industrial junk will be accepted. Please see our website or Facebook page for more information. The Washington Street/Erie Avenue project has restarted. They have been working during the evening hours to minimize any delay in traffic patterns. I believe they plan to move to daytime hours sometime in May SO motorists should be prepared for delays. Once we receive notification from the contractor, we will push the information out to the public. I am hopeful that the project will be completed by July. Ash Street is currently in the engineering phase as the city will be improving it. Permits and inspections are being performed on N. Michael St. Bridge as we look toward this project taking place in the fall. Preparations are also being made on the 37 roads that will receive their topcoat, which will probably happen in the early months of summer, which is a change as we usually must wait until the fall months. Also, we are obtaining the necessary permits and are in the design phase for the amphitheater at Shawmut Park. We are hopeful to break ground on this project later this year. Street sweeping is continuing as we have 3 sweepers canvasing the city. We initially hit the asphalt roadways and will soon be hitting the oil and chip roadways either this week or next week. They will be doing a second run throughout the city since there was a large amount of material used over the winter months to keep the roadways travelable. We are working on enhancing community Wi-Fi at Benzinger Park and installing it at Shawmut Park, which will enhance our community events at these locations. Iwish to thank the St. Marys Rotary Club in assisting and making the new restrooms at Shawmut Park their anniversary project. Congratulations are in order for their 75th year as an organization. The St. Marys Heritage Group will be cleaning around the City tomorrow as we celebrate Earth Day, and I wish to 270 CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL 21, 2025 thank them for their service of cleaning up our area. I wish to advise motorists that there will be a larger number of pedestrians in our downtown area during this event. With that being said, the nicer weather creates more activities at our community parks, and I wish to advise motorists to slow down in these areas. This year's approval of Tree City USA marks 20 years of being awarded this honor. Thank you to the Shade Tree Commission for their commitment to our City. Trees have been planted at our new pedestrian pathway at Benzinger Park near the Wehler Road entrance, and speaking of the pathway, it is the reason for our 2025 Pa Governors Award for Local Government Excellence in Innovative Planning and Sound Land Use Practices. We received this award last Wednesday in Harrisburg. This marks the second time the city has received this award. TREASURER'S REPORT Manager Fleming provided the following Treasurer's Report for March 2025: As of March 31, 2025, the General Fund revenue is at 10% of budget. For 2024, revenue was at 9%. For 2023 it was 16%, and in 2022 revenue was 12% of budget. Expenditures in the General Fund through March 31, 2025, are at 22% of budget. In 2024 expenditures were at 22%, in 2023 it was 24%, and in 2022 expenditures were at 21% of budget. Total Real Estate Taxes collected as of March 31, 2025, are 13% of budget. In 2024, it was 13%, and in 2023 it was 24% of budget, and in 2022, it was 23% of budget. Earned Income Tax revenue for the 1st quarter of 2025 is 28% of budget. In 2024 it was 29% of budget; in 2023 it was 19% of budget and for 2022 it was 26%. This is actual cash received and not earned which means that the majority oft the EIT was for the last quarter of 2024. Pension plans saw a decrease in value in March. LEGISLATIVE ACTION: Manager Fleming explained that on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, bids Award of Bids: were opened for stone for 2025. It was recommended the bid be Stone awarded to Bucktail Excavators of St. Marys for #3, 1b, 2b, DSA, and Native Pit sandstone and to Vollmer Paving of St. Marys for 2a. All prices are per ton. 2a limestone - $24.18 #3 limestone - $28.68 1b limestone - $29.43 CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL 271 REGULAR MEETING APRIL 21, 2025 2b limestone - $28.68 DSA - $30.43 Native Pit sandstone - $17.50 The recommended bidders are the lowest responsible bidders. Motion Passed Shane Schneider made a motion to approve the bid as recommended, seconded by Anthony Gregory, and all were in favor. Road Oil Manager Fleming explained that on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, bids were opened for road oils for 2025. Prices are per gallon. The following are the recommended bid results: E2/E3 MC70/ E4 RS-2PM or MC30 CRS-2PM Midland Asphalt $2.23 Materials Sit- Kote $3.80 $2.50 Russell Standard $2.50 Shane Schneider made a motion to approve the bid as recommended, seconded by Stephen Bagley, and all were in favor. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION: Electric bicycles on City Joe Sarginger noted that something should be done about electric sidewalks bicycles riding on City sidewalks, as they go very fast and are sometimes not visible in the dark. Mayor Garner agreed and suggested having a discussion with the Chief of Police regarding the matter. Manager Fleming stated he will do research and see what can be done about this issue. Amphitheater at Shawmut Park Stephen Bagley mentioned that in preparation for the Amphitheater project at Shawmut Park, the City needs to discuss removing the jungle gym that is blocking the future loading and unloading zone. Mayor Garner agreed and stated that as soon as the plans are received from the surveyors, there will be a better idea of what needs to be done at that point. 272 CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL 21, 2025 CITIZEN COMMENTS ON There were no citizen comments on non-agenda topics. NON-AGENDA TOPICS COUNCIL COMMENTS Joe Sarginger reminded everyone about Clean Up Day. Shane Schneider thanked Leslie Swope from the Library for her presentation, and reminded everyone about Clean Up Day. Nedward Jacob reiterated the importance of visible house numbers. Mayor Garner stated that the library is doing a great job with events and to keep up the good work. He also mentioned that if anyone wants a 988 coin made by John Schlimm, to get in touch with him. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Garner made the following announcements: The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Room at City Hall. ADJOURNMENT Stephen Bagley made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Shane Schneider. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. daus duhey Recording Secretary Mayor