The reconstruction of Tamaqua's Owl Creek Dams was a hot topic of conversation at this week's meeting of Tamaqua Borough Council, as council members discussed enacting an ordinance committing the borough to a $2 million loan from the Jim Thorpe National Bank. A presentation concerning the terms and conditions of the loan was presented by bond counsel Brian Koscelansky of Stevens and Lee and Michael Vind of Financial Solutions LLC.

The loan would cover a 25-year period, with a fixed rate of 3.45 percent for the first 10 years. For the second 10-year period, the rate would be equal to the Prime Rate plus .2 percent. The final five years would reset at the then current Prime Rate plus .4 percent. The Prime Rate for the entire time frame would be capped at 5 percent.Council received approval to enter into a loan agreement after voters approved a referendum on repairing the Owl Creek Dams in the 2009 November general election. The questions Tuesday night came from Councilmen Tom Cara and John Trudich, who were taking exception to the wording of the proposed ordinance.As advertised in the TIMES NEWS on Aug. 13, the loan could have been used to pay for the dams' rehabilitation, as well as "additional capital projects." Those vague additional capital projects brought protests from Cara and Trudich. Both men noted they were in favor of borrowing to fix the dams, but wouldn't vote to approve including other projects in the plans for the loan.Following the debate, council agreed to remove the extra capital expenses from the ordinance, which will be amended for the required second publication.The loan will have a two-year drawdown period, giving the borough some flexibility when it comes to the bidding process. Any funds not withdrawn within that period will revert to the bank and would not be included in the repayment amount. Council could start withdrawing money as early as Sept. 15 and has not, as yet, advertised for bids for the project.Repairs to the dams are expected to cost approximately $1.5 million, although those estimates are now two years old.Other businessIn other business, council rejected a bid for the purchase of 311 Orwigsburg St. and accepted a bid in the amount of $1,101 for the 2001 Ford police cruiser. The cruiser was purchase by Allentown Citizens on Patrol, a nonprofit Crime Watch organization operating in Allentown.A letter of resignation was regretfully accepted from Eileen Barron, who served as secretary for the Tamaqua Planning Commission, zoning commission and the board of appeals. Her resignation was effective as of Aug. 8.Also resigning was Joe Bernathy, who was employed at the Tamaqua Sewage Plant. Anyone interested in the positions may send a letter of intent to council at 320 E. Broad St.Three requests for handicapped parking spaces were approved after review. The applicants included: Ronald Avallone, of 613 N. Railroad St.; Gina Thompson, of 101 Oak St.; and Jerome Hazlett, of 203 Market St.Council approved the purchase of two pick up trucks through the Pennsylvania Surplus Program. A Chevrolet truck was purchased for the Tamaqua Area Water Authority, while a Dodge truck, with a plow, will be used by the street department.Two residents in the audience, Lenore Rutman of Hunter Street, and Louise Howells of Cherry Street, raised questions concerning properties in the South Ward owned by George Geissinger. Both women consider the properties to be hazardous to the children in the area and an eyesore to the community.Code Enforcement Officer James Barron has been working with Geissinger, who has been cited on occasion, on bringing the property into compliance with the borough code. Once a citation has been issued, the property owner has the right to file an appeal. The appeal process can be lengthy and sometimes, by the time a property has been brought into compliance on one issue, a second or third violation is discovered, starting the process anew.Solicitor Michael Greek provided council with samples of ordinances concerning feral cats. Council will review the samples to determine if such an ordinance would be beneficial to the borough.It was announced that the Bungalow will be closing one week earlier than originally planned. The last day for swimming will be Sunday, Aug. 21. The change is needed due to the lack of available life guards.The meeting ended with an executive session for personnel matters.