'Virtually impassable': Lebanon council gets an earful about disruptive road projects

Lebanon City officials Monday evening addressed residents' concerns about how various street resurfacing projects are affecting roadways and motorists.

Various ongoing street repaving and construction projects throughout the city make travel "virtually impassable," according to former city councilman Daryl Cox. Citing the work done mostly on portions of Lincoln Avenue, Cox said the roads appear to be consistently blocked with projects taking longer to be finished.

"The streets are torn up from one side of city to the other," he said. "You cannot get around very easily, nor are there any indication or any communication from the city on what's being done or what streets are being closed other than some detour signs."

Cox added that various alleyways are in horrible condition. On the back streets of his home on 6th street, neighbors are "filling in potholes with sand to try and make it passable."

Over the last 15 years, city officials have invested $8.2 million into street resurfacing projects. Mayor Sherry Capello said that over a year and a half go the city received American Rescue Plan money, which is currently being used for new paving projects.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get some major streets paved in the city," she said. "We are putting an additional $9 million in the next two years into resurfacing the streets, which we think will have a positive impact on the streets located in the city."

The focus for city officials is the streets that have a higher traffic volume. This includes continuing the 422/72 Resurfacing Project, in addition to projects that include portions of Lehman, 8th, 11th, 12th and Oak streets.

At the same time, utility companies such as UGI have been upgrading the underground infrastructure before paving projects are completed, which has slowed the pace of some projects.

"A year and a half, two years, is short term compared to the life expectancy of a street," Capello said. "So if everyone can please have patience for a year in a half, two years, you're going to see a significant difference in the condition of our streets."

When addressing the council, Cox also addressed concerns about garbage containers and dumpsters remaining in front of buildings on non-collection days.

City ordinances require containers be kept to the side or rear of a building. It can be collected out front if there is no side or rear access to the property, but the containers can only be placed there the night before or the day of collection.

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City officials have been informed that trash haulers are telling residents to set containers out front because new collection equipment is too large for the city's alleys, Capello said.

"If residents see this occurring, they should contact the department of public safety, and we will follow up on it," she said.

Residents said the reasons for increased tensions with paving projects and garbage issues was a lack of communication. As an example, Cox said there was no information about paving schedules for projects.

City officials have been putting more of their information on social media sites, like the city's Facebook page, and at the city's website at lebanonpa.org. Capello also said the city has been using electronic newsletters to get more information out to residents.

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Trash center fee hikes coming

Council members on Monday also approved a first reading of a new fee schedule for the trash and recycling center at 8th and Walton Streets. This is the first increase to this rate since 2009.

The facility was run by Weidle Sanitation, which was recently sold, and was subsidizing the costs of disposal for the city.

"The new owner of the businesses significantly increased the price of trash and recycling collection for the city," Capello said. "The new price for services is within the industry standard."

If approved in July, business owners owners would pay $75 per month, a $25 increase, to use the facility. Residential properties with more than three units would pay $40 a month per property. Residential properties with less than three units would pay $30 a month.

The rate changes would start Aug. 1 if council approves the ordinance at their next meeting on July 20.

Fireworks planned

Since Lebanon County Commissioners have lifted the burn ban Monday, city officials announced they will be holding their annual fireworks display at Coleman Community Park at 9 p.m. July 4.

The rain date for the fireworks is July 5.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon Pa. council gets an earful about disruptive road projects