Michael Emery, a GIS specialist with the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association of Bellefonte, addressed the Bowmanstown Borough Council at the invitation of Bowmanstown Public Works Supervisor Chris Bixler.

“I do GIS mapping; go out with GPS and with the local operator, and we go manhole to manhole and map your entire system and create a digital database of what your system looks like, what it is, and where things are,” Emery said.

The mapping service will present a digital inventory of the water and stormwater systems. The municipality will receive detailed printed maps and digital versions of the database.

“You may think, ‘why do we need that if the operator already knows?’” Bixler said. “But, I’m not going to be here forever; and, when you hire another operator, for him to have all this at his fingertips will be a big help.”

Emery cited several communities where existing maps were lost when the operator died, or were destroyed in a flood, or in the case of a vengeful employee who burned the maps.

Council members decided to review the information and costs and vote on it at a future meeting.

Other business

Bowmanstown Borough Council voted 5-1 to adopt the 2024 budget as advertised. Council member Kara Scott voted against the budget. The tax rate remains at 13.005 mills.

• Council said it received information on a potential transfer of a liquor license from 3 Brothers Pizza LLC to Khodlyarmaa Market Inc., aka Reilly’s Deli. One of the requirements of the transfer is to notify the municipality. Because the license is staying within the borough, council does not need to vote or approve the transfer, according to Solicitor Lisa Pereira.

• Borough Engineer Jessica Rehrig, who did not attend the meeting, conveyed that she assisted in drafting a letter to be sent to owners of lots on Lime Street to install erosion and sedimentation controls.

Rehrig also met with the Streets Committee to discuss the reconstruction of Mill Street between Ore and Hamilton streets. Rehrig is still putting together the costs for the project.

• The Bowmanstown Fire Company would like to implement the tax credit. Council decided to review the suggestion and discuss it at the next meeting in January.

• Council voted to advertise the 2024 council meeting schedule to be held the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. with the exception of Nov. 5, Election Day; the planning commission meetings will be the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.; and the workshop meetings will be open so that they are advertised, and will be held the third Tuesday of the month.

• Council voted to appoint Kirk Summa & Company LLC, Auditing Firm, to do the 2023 audit.

• Council voted to appoint Rodney Reeser to another 5-year term on the water authority board.

• Council member Robert Sikorsky said the Bowmanstown Fire Company had two responses for November: Nov. 4, a transformer fire in Parryville; and on Nov. 18, a dwelling fire on Columbia Ave, Palmerton.

• Council voted to grant borough employees a half vacation day for Friday, Dec. 22 and Friday, Dec. 29 for the holidays.

• Council voted to purchase a digital recorder for meetings for $149.99 to replace the current cassette tape recorder.

• The borough is still attempting to contact 19 property owners for sump pump inspections. For those who did not return calls, letters will be sent to them. Bixler said he is willing to do inspections evenings and Saturdays to help out the area homeowners.