Several Parryville residents are concerned about the sewage plans under discussion by the Parryville Council.

Jennifer Borger, a resident on Center Street, said a new sewage system “shouldn’t be mandatory if there are no issues. We pay for our sewage already. It’s not fair.”

President Cathy Hawk and Vice President Jason Smith fielded questions and concerns.

Smith said, “For the past 20 years, we’ve been told we needed to do something about sewage. People in this room were on the board but chose to do nothing. If we don’t do something now, the state will come in and tell us what we have to do. We don’t want that.”

He and Hawk assured residents that “we have time to look at different options. This isn’t going to happen overnight. We are in early planning stages; we have time to make wise choices.”

Hawk said a competitor to the Orenco system reached out and may be able to provide better service and pricing.

Residents’ questions focused on engineering aspects regarding space and compliance, and Hawk assured them that an engineer would be made available to address their questions when they reach that part of the planning stage.

She said, “We are trying to do everything we can to make this affordable for everyone. We have not raised taxes in 20 years, and we are applying for grants to try to help cover the costs.”

She and Smith said the costs to bridge into neighboring towns are “exorbitant,” and “no one here can afford it.”

Smith has been working with state Rep. Doyle Heffley’s office to determine funding sources, and said, “We are trying to become compliant so we don’t become headlines in the news.”

In other business

Building and lights Chair Donald Smith has called PPL to fix streetlights that remain unfixed.

He said, “We are paying them, and they should be fixing them.”

Dustin Wentz, in discussing the status of the park, said, “we have one of the nicest parks in the county, and we want to keep it that way.”

COVID relief grants have been disbursed, and Parryville received 26,271.97. Funds can be used for projects like upgrading the broadband, but there are limitations. They have three years to use the funds and complete projects. Council is discussing options for projects.

The Parryville Fire Department is proud to announce they have paid off the balance of their firetruck.

Monica Kunkle said, “We now own our fire engine.”

On Saturday, from 6-8 p.m., there will be a funnel cake drive-thru.

On Sept. 5, there will be a breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon, and there will be a block party on Sept. 18 and 19 with small rides and a bouncy house, and the bands Side Effects on Friday and Last Man Standing on Saturday.