Like punch-drunk fighters coming out of the corner, Coaldale council members keep finding ways to stand up to their latest budget challenges.

During a meeting Tuesday, council learned that repairs to a sewer line break on Route 209 may cost about $75,000. The good news is that the amount is about $30,000 lower than expected, but the bad news is that the expenditure wasn't in the budget.Jacqueline Peleschak from Alfred Benesch & Co. of Pottsville, said that preliminary engineering work showed that the subsurface of Route 209 is concrete, which means restoration would be costly.Instead, the design developed by Benesch calls for a new line installed along the sidewalk area, and installation of a new manhole. The existing line can remain in service while the new line is constructed, Peleschak explained.The final design should be completed by next month's meeting, and the project can then go out to bid.Council again wrestled with costs associated with its police force. In 2012, council members had voted to furlough the full-time officers and maintain coverage using part-time officers.With a new council seated in 2014, the police force question was revisited and the full-time officer positions restored. However, according to discussion during Tuesday's meeting, although the borough has a pool of six part-time officers, they are not always available to work on short notice when needed.As a result, the full-time officers are working overtime and the cost is taking chunks out of the borough's budget. During the meeting, Mayor Richard Kellner asked if the borough could advertise for more part-time officers. He took offense to Council President Angela Krapf when she responded that they had enough part-timers; the problem was that he wasn't consulting officers when he worked on scheduling.The two argued the point until Kellner angrily left the room. When he returned, council reached a compromise: Kellner will meet with Sgt. Keith Krapf and talk to the six part-time officers on the roster to see if one of them is interested in committing to a 32-hour workweek for Coaldale.Council member Harry Hontz, who chairs the police committee, said that the borough must make the switch from analog to digital radios for its police force by Oct. 1. The cost to purchase three portable and three mobile radios will be $27,199. Council voted unanimously to purchase the radios and will defer the first payment to 2015.Borough secretary Andrea Davis asked if council would respond to her request to amend her contract and also pay her for comp time. Council member Linda Miller said that the matter should be discussed in executive session.During public comment, resident Ruthann Kehl of West Ridge Street, complained about an adjoining property at 132 W. Ridge which she said is in terrible condition. Kehl said that she's been coming to council for four years hoping for action. She left the meeting unhappy with council's response."Who is in charge of this? You put ordinances in place but nobody follows through," Kehl said. "I'm disgusted with the whole nine yards and (in regard to council response) I'm not impressed."Solicitor Mike Greek directed Davis to write a letter to Code Enforcement Officer Michael O'Hara, directing him to issue citations."Issue the tickets," Greek said. "That's why the ordinances are in place."Resident Kelly Dirzulaitis, who lives on Miner Street, expressed concern over traffic congestion when students have returned to school. A school bus stop is located on the same block as a day care center.In the afternoons, Dirzulaitis said that children roam freely onto people's properties and also into the street. Motorists are double-parked, making it impossible for traffic to proceed on the street.After some discussion, council decided to have the police officer on duty for the 3-11 shift patrol in the area, to try to control the situation."The kids should be kept under control," council member Brenda Hosler said. "And the police should cite drivers who are blocking the road.""It's really a problem and somebody's going to get hurt," Dirzulaitis said. "The kids are all over neighbor's properties and in the street."Council members and citizens observed a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting to honor former councilman Steve Tenetylo, who passed away earlier in the month. They are seeking applicants for his council seat; anyone interested can send a letter to the borough office.