Bids will be sought to pave two streets in Mt. Jewett as well as the parking lot at the borough building on Center Street.

Acting at its meeting Monday, the Mt. Jewett Borough Council called for bids for paving on Chestnut Street, Keesler Avenue and the parking lot.

Shawn Agosti, a representative of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), recently visited Mt. Jewett to scope out the proposed paving work.

“He feels the bids should come in at around $42,412 for all three areas,” Borough Maintenance Supervisor Rod Peterson said in his report to council. Peterson said the borough would be “a fool” to postpone the paving work if the bids are near the estimate given by Agosti.

The borough also plans to restore Martin Geer Drive this year, it was noted.

In other business at the two-hour meeting at the Mt. Jewett Memorial Library:

    •     Discussed a proposal from Councilman John Hayduk to seek bids for garbage collection in the borough.

Hayduk claims borough residents are “paying more for garbage collection than anyone in the area” even though the Rustick landfill is “in our backyard.”

Hayduk was named to serve on a new borough council Garbage Committee along with Councilmen Wil Antrim and Brett Morgan. Councilman Chuck Paar said the Garbage Committee should consider “price and service” in making a recommendation to council on garbage collection.

    •     Agreed to provide $6,513.82 to the borough Park Committee for improvements at the Community Park.

The amount includes $2,583.82 remaining from the 2007 park budget and $3,930 from this year’s budget of $5,000. The other $1,070 from this year’s park account is the borough’s share for the Kane Area Recreation and Cultural Commission (KARCC). The KARCC offers many programs for students in the Kane Area School District.

It was noted that the Park Committee will use the $6,513.82 in borough funds to pay most bills associated with the park. However, the borough plans to cover the cost of mowing grass at the park.

    •     Heard a report from Dave Knight, president of the Mt. Jewett Volunteer Fire Department. He said the firemen last month responded to 13 calls, including eight fires and two traffic accidents.

    •     Discussed the need for a possible ordinance to regulate the installation of propane tanks in Mt. Jewett. The fire department is concerned because more residents appear to be switching to propane as a heating fuel.

    •    Received notice that the library will be painted by a crew of inmates from the State Correctional Facility near Marienville. The borough is expected to provide the paint.

    •     Heard a report from Councilman Paar on the progress of a fund-raising drive by the Mt. Jewett Charter School Coalition. He said the Coalition already has raised $25,000 “locally” to support its efforts to open a Charter School in Mt. Jewett for the start of the next school year.

    •     Received notice that Council President Ben Bartlein and Councilman Morgan will represent the borough on the Route 6 Corridor Committee.