Lansford Borough Council on Wednesday moved ahead with a study on creating a solid waste authority with Summit Hill.

Council approved a letter of intent to the state Department of Community and Economic Development asking for assistance in a study to determine the feasibility for the neighboring communities to collect their own trash.

Both Lansford and Summit Hill are under contract with Casella Waste Systems, formerly Tamaqua Transfer.

Lansford approved a five-year, $3.67 million contract this year, increasing residential rates from $60 to $115 a quarter.

Summit Hill approved a four-year contract at $2.37 million, or $592,128 a year which was more than double than what the borough had been paying a year.

Summit Hill already approved moving ahead with a study in August, hoping to offset continued increases in garbage removal costs with outside contractors which continue to merge and consolidate.

Councilman Joseph Butrie was opposed to the study.

Committees

In other business, council set up committees to negotiate crossing guard and public work/streets department contracts.

Both contracts expire at the end of the year, Council President Bruce Markovich said.

Serving on the committee for the crossing guard talks will be council members Michele Bartek, Butrie and Markovich, and Jack Soberick, Bartek and Butrie will serve on the streets negotiations committee.

Council also set up a committee to investigate the purchase of used a sewer jet/vacuum to replace the one destroyed in the borough garage fire earlier this year.

Council members George Gilbert, Bartek and Soberick will serve on that committee.

Public works

Council also approved several motions or heard updates related to the public works/streets department.

Council approved moving the propane heating system from the old Silberline building to the Zimmerman building at a cost not to exceed $2,500. The borough crew will do some of the work.

Council also approved completing credit applications with two firms for mini-excavator rental on an as-needed basis.

The firms and quotes are Cleveland Brothers for $600 a day, $1,287 a week, and $2,850 a month, and Highway Equipment and Supply Co. for $1,000 a week or $3,000 a month. Delivery and pickup is extra.

Council went with both to ensure availability of the equipment should the excavator not be available from one or the other when needed.

Butrie also informed council that a previously-discussed tree on East Snyder Street will be taken down on Sept. 25. Council also tabled taking down other trees considered hazardous, as the borough considers the cost from different tree services.

A motion to sell the asphalt zipper for no less than $35,000 as is again failed. The borough held off on selling the machine, which is used for milling small areas of asphalt, back in July and debated the move again in August.

Council had hoped to get a better value estimate when the sale was discussed last month, and pointed out that the machine was currently being used by the school district under the shared services agreement.

Council also tabled drainage work at the top of Cortright Street, seeking a possible resolution with Lehigh Anthracite first.

Council also tabled the purchase of new snow plowing signs and the inlet installation at the handicapped ramp on the east side of the Ashton Park lot for lack of prices or quotes.

Councilwoman Jennifer Staines asked for garbage cans to be placed at school bus stops and for the borough crew to change out bags. Butrie said they’ll put out cans, if any are available.