At Walnutport's regular meeting of council held Thursday evening Kip Fedetz, of Fedetz and Martin Associates, PC, updated Council on the Walnutport Playground Improvements Project. He said that most of the sight work is done for the season and that rain delays from earlier in the project have caused need for an extension into the spring. The project was not bid for winter conditions since it was supposed to be completed by Dec. 18.

"After the steel is erected, I recommend that we shut down the project until spring. There would be no extra cost, but it would provide better work for the borough," Fedetz said. "They will probably need only 30 days once they start again to finish up."Councilwoman Joan Rehrig asked Fedetz when he expects the work to be done, since the Duane J. Lucien Scholarship Benefit is already scheduled to be held at the playground on May 21. Fedetz said that shouldn't be a problem. He expects the work to be completed in March and April.In other business, Council named the members of their newly reinstated Recreation Board. They are Michael Gaston, Michelle Novak, Jim Evans, Wayne Weidner, Donald Eckhart, Jennifer Wentz and Vince Morris. Also, Council passed the budget for next year."Unfortunately we're going to have to lay one police officer off," President William Turk said.Council raised taxes by half of a mil in order to pass the budget."We're going to have to stay tight to the budget right at the beginning of next year," Councilman Michael Gaston said.