Construction slated for a street in Bowmanstown has one resident questioning the legitimacy of a five-year plan aimed to address streets in the borough.

The construction on Mill Street was mentioned at Tuesday’s borough council meeting.

At that, resident Phyllis Kreiss questioned the borough’s five-year plan, and said she’s never seen Mill Street in the Meadow Crest development on the five-year plan.

Kreiss also said every time there’s a road to be done, it’s one toward the town itself, and not those outside of town.

Kreiss suggested there has to be more than one grant out there for the borough to pursue.

Councilman Darren Thomas explained that the borough has artery roads that are in need of repairs, and rattled off roads where work has been done.

Chris Bixler, public works supervisor, told Kreiss the borough is “trying to organize a better plan.”

Councilman Rob Sikorksy said he understood Kreiss’ concern, adding the road is pothole infested.

Kreiss said she’s lived there for 36 years and is still waiting.

Thomas said that many of the people who let it go are no longer sitting on council anymore.

Councilman Rob Moyer told Kreiss that with a bid package, the borough looks at the amount of money it has, how much it can spend, and what it can get done.

“Credit to Mr. Bixler in trying to get some of the potholes filled,” Moyer said.

Bixler said the issue is a “lack of manpower.”

“I keep saying we need to raise taxes,” Bixler said.

Kreiss told council she believes the borough needs to keep looking for money.

Bixler noted it costs money to write out the grants.

Leaf vacuum

Also on Tuesday, council discussed a leaf vacuum, saying one quote has been received.

Councilwoman Kara Scott said she didn’t understand why the borough was looking into one when it only has 880 residents.

She was told what the borough spends in four years it could buy it’s own unit, along with the fact it would help with the borough’s MS4 infiltration.

Scott said that council has also debated spending $80,000 for a dump truck, and added it needs to choose between what it believes is more of a need.

Moyer said that the borough does have a savings account for road maintenance, and that in the past five years, the borough’s general fund has grown.

Scott said she believes the borough needs to look at other avenues when it comes to road repairs.

“Why don’t we work with other boroughs? There are options, but we don’t need the best of everything,” Scott said.

Moyer told Scott that while he agreed the borough doesn’t need to buy everything, he believes a leaf vacuum would be a wise purchase.

“A leaf vacuum is something I believe we can safely purchase,” Moyer said.