Tamaqua Borough Council is reinstituting a low-interest loan program to help residents upgrade and replace their sidewalks.

The loan program, along with the low-interest home improvement loan program, had been suspended pending a review, due to delinquencies.

The borough currently has approximately $10,000 budgeted for the program annually and residents who are in good standing with their utility bills, own their home, have homeowners insurance, and no other liens against the property can apply for up to $3,000 to help repair or replace their sidewalks.

On Tuesday, Councilman Dan Evans said there have consistently been about 20 citations issued monthly for sidewalks that are in disrepair.

“We need to get out ahead of this thing,” he said, adding that he hopes the code enforcement citations can be married to information about the program and that repeat offenders will be able to correct the situation with the borough’s help. Evans said that zero dollars have been distributed through the program since he has been on council.

“Nothing would make me happier than having to come back here next year and ask for more money for the program,” Evans said.

In other borough business, borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt said he had received the insurance premiums for Oct. 1.

The total amount the borough will be paying for all insurances is $319,372. Steigerwalt said the premiums increased 2.5 percent since last year, attributing most of the cost to an increase in the borough’s property values and an increase in payroll.

The numbers were in line with the budgeted amount.

Council denied a handicap parking space application for 325 Spruce St. because it exceeded the number of handicap spaces allowed in the block.

Council approved the purchase of a used compressed air system for the fire department. Councilman Brian Connely explained that the borough had the opportunity to buy a new system to replace the borough’s 27-year-old system. The new compressor has only 130 hours on it, and Connely said it was a “fantastic deal.” The $5,000 will come from the building and equipment fund.

Council also approved the purchase of four new Taser units. Police Chief Henry Woods had advised council last month that the police department’s Tasers were coming close to the end of their life cycle and should be replaced.

The four units will be purchased from Axon Enterprises and will cost $7,124.

Council heard from a resident of the South Ward area who expressed concern that students from LCCC who are prohibited from smoking on campus have migrated to neighboring properties. Mark Bower said that on rainy days, students actually come under his car port to smoke and leave the area littered with cigarette butts.

He asked if the borough can contact the school regarding creating a designated smoking area or getting the smokers to clean up after themselves.