Dedication

• 97.2% Attendance – Since taking office I have been present for 173 of the 178 Council Meetings that have taken place.
• Website Updates – Hundreds of hours over the last 4 years updating the Steeltonpa.com website at no cost to residents.

Transparency

• Website Redesign – Upon my previous appointment to Council I completely redesigned the Borough of Steelton’s website, dramatically increasing the information posted to improving the communication from the Borough to it residents. The website now has 6+ Years of Council Meetings. In addition, online utility billing payments, Bid Request, Request for Proposal, and much more that previously was not available to resident online 24/7. Three (3) years ago the entire site was redone in an updated format.
  • Current the site is lacking content updates. Moving forward Council needs to implement required content creation from the staff to continue to keep the website updated with the latest news. My role in the website is the design and updating of the website with content provided by staff.
• Social Media Policy and Facebook Page – The policy set the rules for creating and maintaining a social media presents. The use of social media allows the borough staff to quickly and immediately get information out to residents. These updates are also integrated into the front page of the borough’s website for residents without a Facebook account.

Blighted Properties

• LERTA & IDRPTEA tax Incentive Programs – Incentives economic development and revitalization in the Borough by providing up to a 10-year tax abatement on property improvements. By working with Dauphin County and School District we were able to accomplish this for all three taxing entities.
• New Delinquent Tax collection – Many of the blighted properties in the borough are abandoned and are delinquent on their property taxes. By utilizing an outside collection agency, rather then the county, we hope to fast track the process of either collecting delinquent taxes or getting those properties into the hands of someone who will invest in the revitalization of Steelton. In the worst-case properties, we would like to acquire these falling down properties for demolition.
• Vacant Property Registration Expansion – Properties that sit vacant for years often fall into disrepair. We have expanded the Boroughs Vacant Property Registration ordinance to not only include bank owned properties but all properties in the Borough. The ordinance requires any property that is vacant for a certain amount of time register bi-annually with the Borough and pay a registration fee, incentivizing property owners not to allow properties to remain vacant and become blighted.
• Developed Fire Escrow Ordinance –  Researched, developed, and wrote Ordinance 2018-03 with requires insurance companies to put away a portion of fire damage claims that would be made available to the borough to repair or demolish buildings that were damaged by fire and the owners walk away or do not repair the structures. Previously the borough would have to use tax-payer dollars to secure (make safe) or demolish these buildings.
• Blighted Property Demolition – Either through Borough budget funds or preferably awarded grants continue the progress we have made on removing blighted properties from the borough,. Successes have been Daren Alley, Funeral home at 2nd and Frank S. Brown, Locust Street (which is how being developed by Habitat for Humanity), former buildings at the Steel Works current site.

Economic Development

• Frank S Brown Townhomes – This year groundbreaking will occur to build six new owner-occupied town homes on Frank S Brown Boulevard, followed by another six next year. This vision has been in the works for over a decade and I am honored to have been a part of the process the last 3 years through both the Planning Commission and Council. Its been a long time coming. Phase 1 has been completed with the construction of 6 new townhomes. Phase 2 which will construct the additional 6 townhomes is being worked towards by the counties redevelopment authority. We anticipate construction in late 2023 or 2024.
• Medical Marijuana Ordinance – While the Ordinance itself did not attribute to economical development, guiding the ordinance through the planning commission and council early on allowed the Borough of Steelton to be one of the only few places in the county for dispensary to be located. The forward thinking resulted in a previously tax-exempt property to be purchased, rebuilt, and placed back onto the tax roles.
• LERTA & IDRPTEA tax Incentive Programs – See above.
• Steelworks Front Street Development Project – The development of this project has been moving swiftly. Currently a Dollar General and Senior Life are in place and open. This summer 40+ new apartments will be available for rent as well as some commercial space. Construction as begun on Hamilton Health which will include medical exam rooms, administrative offices, and clinical spaces to support Hamilton Health’s primary care, mental health, substance abuse and WIC program services.
• Locust Street Habitat for Humanity Project -Habitat for Humanity homes is currently building energy-efficient homes at 2nd and Locust Streets. The project is part of Habitat for Humanity plans to build 50 sustainable concrete houses in 50 states in five years. Two families are planned to move in to these new homes in June with the second set of homes planned for construction this fall.

Taxes & Revenue

• Saved Tax dollars though Energy Savings – In 2016 worked with the Borough Staff and APPI Energy to successfully lock the borough into a fix rate for the purchase of electricity for 3 Years. After two years I reviewed out energy expenses which showed a savings of $25,769.53. In 2019 I worked again with APPI Energy to lock the borough into another fixed rate for the next 5 years at a new rate which was 21.4% lower than the previous rate. Since then the company that has provided the rate in 2019 (Talen Energy) has gone out of business. We quickly worked to secure a new contract at unfortunately hire rate but is about half of what PPL current rate is.
• Delinquent Tax collection – When some do not pay their share, other must pay more. I am still hopeful that these collection methods assist in collecting delinquent taxes and deters property owners from becoming delinquent in the future. We have seen a slight drop in delinquencies and a slight increase in current property tax collection over the last 4 years. Covid-19 put a hold the collections which has delayed the effectiveness of the changes.
• Covid-19 – Covid-19 created many challenges over the last few years with taxes and revenue. Thankfully with the many years of holding the line on expenses, putting away it reserves for a rainy day, we were able to weather the Covid-19 storm without having to find ways to increase taxes.

Projects

• Steelton Skate Park Project – Chairing the original committee that worked with local skaters, the county, and other borough officials to create the first open skate park in Dauphin County. Fund was secured by county tourism and gaming grants.  This new attraction is routinely bringing people from Dauphin, Cumberland, York, Perry and Lancaster counties to visiting the park on a weekly basis. Phase two was completed over the last few years and the park continues to thrive. In addition the basketball courts were upgraded with new backboards and nets.
• 2019 Paving Projects – Parts of Lincoln, Walnut and 4^th Streets will be repaved this year. The Borough has invested $250,000 this year and was awarded a $100,000 grant from Dauphin County for these repairs, but there is so much more to do. We need to continue our excellent working relationship with Dauphin County as we continue to move Steelton Forward. These paving projects were completed successfully in 2019.
• Hoffer Street Pump Station Improvements – Its not the most glamorous project, but one that is extremely important. This station moves wastewater though the borough and is in serious need of repair. The Borough received a 2.3 Million Dollar grant from PennVEST for this project. This covers roughly 95% of the cost of the improvements. By receiving this grant is saves the borough from having to borrow millions of dollars over 20 years saving sewer rate payers from increase over that time.  This was a massive win for the residents of the Borough of Steelton.
• Bailey Street Park Project – Bailey Street Park had received new playground equipment though a donation from the Borough Engineering contractor HRG. In addition several large trees were removed, both basket ball courts were resurfaced, and need backboards and nets were installed.
• Trewick Force Main Project – Again not the most glamorous project but necessary. The Trewick Force Main is the only connection from the Borough of Steelton to Capital Region Waters sewer plant. All waste water from the Borough is transported through is connection. The pipe is past is end of life. In the past 3 years we have had two costly breaks in this connection, thankfully both times the breaks occurred in locations that were easily accessible. While we would have liked to been awarded a grant for this project, we were able to secure a low interest subsidized loan (1.74%) with out partnership with Dauphin County. To get a 1.74% interest rate in todays market is an amazing feat. So much thanks thanks to our good friends and partners at Dauphin County for helping our Borough.
• Emergency Generators at Trewick and Felton Street Pump Stations (in planning, funding secured) – Currently there is not backup power for these pump stations. Hoffer street will be getting a backup generator as part of its improvement project. These pumping stations keeps the wastewater moving to Capital Regions Sewer plant. If these stations are not pumping, there is a risk that the wastewater (sewage) will back up. If the backups are sever enough, it could begin to backup into homes and businesses. Once these generators are in place it will ensure that even in an emergency or power outage they can continue to function and move the wastewater out of the Borough. This has been one of the items I had been pushing for and thanks to additional funding in the Trewick Force Main Project it will be completed.
• Paving Projects (2022 & 2023 | in planning, funding secured) – A part of the Trewick Force Main Project funding was also set aside for road repaving projects. The project is currently with the Public Works Committee to determine which roads are to be completed with the funds provided.
• The Brickyard at Emuel Powell, Jr Park (2022 & 2023 | in planning, funding secured) – The park is planned to consist of the following:
  • Covered Stage
  • Community open space for farmers markets, passive recreation, and other activities
  • Fire Pits
  • Two Pavilions
  • An Accessory Building
  • Lawn Games Area
  • and More

Miscellaneous

• Developed a Fire Fighter Tax Credit Program –  Researched, developed, and wrote an ordinance just passed by Brough Council to provide an EIT or Property Tax Credit for residents of Steelton who volunteer at the Steelton Fire Department. I worked one on one with the Fire Chief to develop the programs guidelines for participation requirements to be eligible for the tax credit. Volunteers save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year by providing our residents with fire protection services. A large portion of the cost of providing the equipment and training to protect our residents is acquired though hundreds of hours of fundraising events each year. The goal of this program was not only to reward residents that provided an invaluable service, but to increase participation in the Steelton Volunteer Fire Department. The Ordinance was passed this year.
• Steelton Fest – This free community event continues to grow. After two very successful years on Front Street at the location where the Steel Work site currently is Covid-19 sidelined the event. Last year, without the Front Street site to use because of construction, Steelton Fest was held at Club XL. It still remained a free open to the public community event, more importantly the event continued. This year Steelton Fest is scheduled back in Steelton at either the Emuel Powell, Jr Park (if ready) or on the site of the former West Side! Next year with the completion of the Emuel Powell, Jr Park, Steelton Fest will find is permanent home.