BY STACI WILSON

A foul smell in the air has caused complaints in the borough of Susquehanna.
At the Wednesday, Aug. 21 meeting, Councilman Roy Williams said the Department of Environmental Protection was expected to be at the site suspected of causing the odor to investigate on Thursday, Aug. 22.

Williams told those in attendance at the meeting, “The right calls have been made and the right people are coming to inspect.”
“It will be taken care of,” he promised.

The smell apparently lingered in the air during the recent Home Town Days which despite the odor, council members said was a great success.

Council President Roberta Reddon thanked the Susquehanna Community Development Association for their work in bringing the event to the community.

She noted that the borough police were “stand-outs” during the festivities; and also thanked the streets committee and the borough’s Department of Public Works for their “great overall effort” readying the town for its many visitors during the annual event.

Williams also reported that the DPW crew performed a survey of the catch basins located in the borough.

He said the state was interested in turning over catch basins to the borough but noted that at least half of the ones are in a state of disrepair.

Williams said it was his belief “they should be in operable condition when they do turn them over.”

Council voted to offer the borough’s street sweeper for sale, as is. It is estimated the sweeper needs about $7,000-10,000 in repairs to be functional.
Earlier this year, Cabot Oil & Gas helped out the borough by sweeping its streets. That is no longer going to be possible, according to Williams.

He said the company, per DEP, is only permitted to work on roads they have bonded; and any debris removed from the roads must be taken to an approved site.

Paving is now complete on Pleasant Avenue and work on Broad Avenue is expected to get underway before the end of September.

Williams also noted that, according to borough ordinance, grass clippings can not be mowed into the street ditches and gutters.

He said the borough has spent a good amount of money upgrading drainage over the past five to six years and the grass clippings are wreaking havoc with the system.

“I will let people know it’s no longer allowed,” Williams said. “It’s more money for everyone – it’s a very large problem.”