The Tamaqua Borough Council is responding to concerns over the lack of road lines on Owl Creek Road.

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, council voted to hire a company to do street line painting to the recently resurfaced road.

DeAngelo Contracting Services, Hazleton, submitted a $6,600 bid for the work, which was the lower of two bids received.

The cost covers lining about five miles of the road.

“We did have lines out there but then we did the bituminous seal coat and that of course erased them,” borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said.

Shredding

Also in his report to council, Steigerwalt noted that he received quotes to shred about 270 boxes of records from the borough and the Tamaqua Water Authority dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

Council voted to hire Shred-It, Drums, to do the work.

The $2,200 price was the lowest bid received and will be split between the borough and water authority.

Vehicles

Council also approved the purchase a 2015 Ford Explorer for $9,500 from Rottet Motors, Tamaqua. The vehicle will be used by borough code enforcement officers.

Steigerwalt said he looked at comparable vehicles but found prices between $14,000 and $20,000.

And, he said, the borough will pay for the vehicle with some of the approximate $20,000 it recently received for selling old vehicles and equipment through the Municibid online auction.

“We got rid of junk to get something,” council President Brian Connely said.

Other business

• An audit of the borough’s Workplace Safety Committee passed “with flying colors.” The committee was established a dozen years ago, and by having one, the borough receives a 5% discount on its workers’ compensation premium. The committee is comprised of employees from each of the borough’s departments.

• Ongoing demolition projects are on hold until the weather improves but should be complete by the end of April.

• Street sweeping will begin on a regular basis soon. The borough plans to have the sweeper tackling problem areas next week.

“We like to take it out, test it out and make sure it’s working properly,” Steigerwalt said.

• Tree trimming is underway and will continue as weather permits.

• Before the start of the meeting, council observed a moment of silence for Albert “Albie” Coccio, a longtime borough employee who passed away on March 16.