Nesquehoning wants to follow Jim Thorpe's lead to help improve roads in the borough, but there are questions regarding the neighboring borough's recent action that must be answered before Nesquehoning shifts money in its accounts.

On Wednesday, borough council officials spoke about Jim Thorpe's recent action to transfer $300,000 from its sanitation fund to its general fund to pay for street repair work this summer.Councilman Don DeMarco, who chairs the borough street committee, said that if it is possible, he would like to see the borough follow suit to help cover costs to repair roads instead of just patching them.Nesquehoning's sanitation fund, as of Feb. 29, has an escrow of $121,795.85.DeMarco said that he would like to move some of that money to the streets fund because macadam prices are extremely low right now.RoniSue Ahner, borough secretary, said that when she talked to the borough auditor previously, she was told the borough can't just shift money between funds.Per the borough code, they are supposed to borrow it but would be required to repay that fund.Council said that an article published in the Times News on March 11 did not say anything about Jim Thorpe repaying the money that it is shifting.Ahner said she will contact Jim Thorpe to see how they are doing this money shift and see if there is a way Nesquehoning could do the same thing.No formal action on this matter was taken.In other street-related matters, council discussed repairs to Tippetts Road, the east entrance into the Lake Hauto private community.Councilman David DeMelfi outlined an initial quote from Charles Sincavage for a base repair of a 0.2-mile section of the road, as well as a seal coat of oil and chip.DeMelfi said Sincavage said that oil and chipping the road would help it last "many, many years."The quote for the base repair came in at $45-$50 per square yard, using about 581 tons.The quote for the oil and chipping came in at $6,600 for a half-mile section of the road.DeMarco said that he felt that now was the time to do this because of prices being low for materials.Council asked for official quotes for the two projects and noted that the borough would supply the macadam for the base repair.Council also voted to provide equipment for a pipe replacement for the Nesquehoning Conservation Club.DeMarco said that the pipe was crushed or blocked and would need replacement. Borough workers already offered to provide their services free of charge to the club on a weekend for the project.The pipe runs from the Fourth Hollow Stream to the pond situated between Park Avenue and Industrial Road.Mayor Sam Kitchko, who is a member of the conservation club, said that the club found some stones and other debris blocking the pipe, which feeds the pond with fresh water, and members are also questioning if it is all there because of the Industrial Road being washed out years ago.He said that if the club can't find the other end of the pipe, then the project will not happen, and added that he already spoke with the Carbon County Conservation District and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, who both said the project is fine to proceed since it is an existing pipe.No date on when this will take place has been announced.