August’s Kane Borough Council meeting summary
KANE—THE Kane Borough Council held their business meeting on Wednesday, August 14. The meeting began with reports from the various departments and committees.
The tax collector’s report stated that $97,791.86 remains to be collected, down around $10,000 from the last meeting in July. Next the council approved $128,039.33 of bills for payment.
Council Vice President Jack Zelina reported on a recent meeting to explore the development of some of the vacant lots in the borough. The need for single level housing has been expressed and Zelina and the potential developer toured some of the possible sites.
Now they are considering whether the homes would be built “to spec” or if they could be built to suit the needs of a committed buyer first. There are about 22 lots that are available from the borough for any developer for this type of project.
Kane’s Chief of Police, Heath Boyer, reported to the council next. He informed them that Officer Schmader is resigning from the police force and that Saturday, August 17 will be his last day. Schmader was serving Kane part time while also working with the Mckean County Sheriff’s Dept.
Boyer also gave a reminder that with school starting next week, alternate side street parking on Hemlock Ave. will resume on Tuesday, August 20 to allow for school bus traffic for school, which begins on August 21. The area affected is on Hemlock Ave. only between Fraley St. and Pennsylvania Ave.
The next report was from Kane’s Street Department Manager, Mick O’rourke. He reported that five skunks have been trapped and released in the last few months. “We’ve been releasing a lot of skunks as of late. The borough now has skunk traps to sign out if people have skunks. It works really nice,” O’rourke said.
Jack Zelina gave an update from the recently formed Knox and Kane Trailhead Committee, which is a subcommittee of the properties committee that was formed to manage the development of the trailhead on Biddle St. across from Country Fair.
The group is in the process of posting a large trail map and illustrated map of Kane on the depot building there. They are also planning to add some kind of barrier to hide the former Kandle Handle site, whether a natural barrier of arbor vitae or a man made barrier of signage.
A large sculpture is set to be installed by local artist, Jody Aiello in September.
They are also forming a plan on how to renovate the depot building which will begin with getting an architect or engineer to design. They discussed the pros and cons of having a bathroom on site versus crossing the street to use the bathroom at Country Fair.
“That was their second meeting and I think they are very enthusiastic and I am too,” Zelina said. “I think that the depot and the whole area needs to be improved, because I walk by there every day and people are utilizing it everyday. It’s important for visibility for our town to get this moving.”
The group is looking to plan over the fall and winter months so they can have something to move on next spring.
The council moved on to new business next. They addressed a change of guard in Kane Health Board with the resignation of Dr. Dennis and Darlene Olson.
Borough Manager Don Payne said, “Dennis is resigning from the Health Board completely, and Darlene is resigning from the position of Secretary, but she will be on the Health Board as an individual.”
The council accepted the resignations and appointed Dr. Dale Mclaughlin and his wife Audrey Mclaughlin in their positions.
Audrey was already a member of the Health Board and was appointed to be Secretary, and Dale will was appointed as Health Officer. They have already been training for their roles with the state.
The first reading of a change to the ordinance, #A-1078 was approved reflecting the actual compensation plan for the Health Officer, which is $3,000 per year. The increase was made at least five years prior, but the ordinance language was not updated to reflect the amount. Compensation for dwelling inspections was also provided for with the proposed change.
The council moved on to address an emergency repair that was needed for a sinkhole that appeared on the corner of Greeves and Fraley St. That resolution, #12-24, which allowed the use of $20,437 for the cost of the repair, was approved. Even though this is a state road, the borough is required to take care of the land under the road.
Resolution #13-24 was also approved, providing for the match funds required for a PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grant for the 2026 Paving Project in Kane. The grant requires the borough to match 30% ($150,813) of the total estimated cost ($502,707).
An addition to the 2024 Paving Project was also approved. The motion added the first block of Walnut St. from Park Ave. to the intersection of
Tionesta Ave. in the amount of $38,000. The borough is allowed to add to the project up to 10% after the bids are opened without the need for a new bid process.
The council also approved the cost of the paving inspector who will inspect and direct fixes with the paving project.
Next, the first reading of Ordinance #A1077 — Sidewalk Incentive, was approved.
“This basically is language to incentivize folks to improve their sidewalks with an incentive of $10 per five foot square (one “block” of sidewalk),” Council President Tom Kase said.
Currently there is no fee for a sidewalk permit, and this change will allow an incentive that is proportional to the length of sidewalk replaced, from one section all the way up to an entire corner. The council may vote to approve the proposed change at their next business meeting in
September, after the second reading.
Two other changes to the borough ordinance were discussed, subsection 78-7 regarding the keeping of small animals and allowing animal enclosures closer than 25 feet from the property lines; and subsection 143-9 regarding transient vendors (like food trucks) and prohibiting them to be located in the central business district uptown.
Both issues were introduced by residents at the borough's workshop meeting on Wednesday August 7, but some members of the council were not present. The remaining council members heard about the issues at this meeting before deciding to send them before the ordinance committee for investigation and recommendations.
Next the council approved obligations in the 2025 budget for pension plans of borough employees . For non-uniformed staff, the borough's obligation is $24,480 and for police the obligation is $0 in 2025.
Resolution #14-24 was approved to increase the amount being requested in a grant application, and the corresponding amount of matching funds from the borough for the addition of sidewalks around Evergreen Park on Birch St. and Park Ave. The resolution authorizes Tom Kase and Don Payne to sign any documents to be involved in the grant, in the amount of $154,820 for the total project and the borough's 15% match of $23,223.
An announcement was made by Tom Kase to notify the public of a change in venue for the Kane Borough Council Meeting on October 9, 2024 to the Six & Kane building at 63 N Fraley St.
A special meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., prior to the start of the official meeting, Kane's Mayor Brandy Schimp will be honored as Mayor of the Year by the PA Mayor' Association.
“This is not just borough mayors, this is mayors of the entire state including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and our mayor is the winner.”, Kase said.
The public is more than welcome to attend both the special meeting honoring Mayor Schimp, and the normal council meeting which will follow.
Mayor Schimp thanked the council for nominating her for the award before giving her report on several local events to the council.
She discussed the International Peace Run that traveled through Kane and how the runners ran with Kane's Kids of Steel and spoke to them about their mission of peace.
Schimp said, “They allowed all the kids to get in a circle and pass the torch around that had been carried by millions of people across the world.”
She also said that National Night Out was a great success and the turnout was
higher than expected, even with bad weather.
Following the mayor's report, several Kane citizens spoke before the council regarding concerns over ordinance violations and changes.
The next meeting of the council will be their workshop meeting on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30 p.m., followed by their business meeting on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30 p.m.—both are held at the borough office at 112 Bayard St. in Kane.
Both meetings are open to the public and residents are given the opportunity to speak. Contact the borough with any questions or concerns by calling (814) 8379240. Information on borough matters, including the borough ordinance and meeting schedules can also be found at www. Kanepa.com.