Project promoted: Denver borough council runs with new Cocalico school fields venture

Denver borough council met one week earlier than usual so the Cocalico School District Phase 2 parking, roads, and fields project could receive its final approval and begin construction.

“They’re on a tight schedule,” said Denver Manager Mark Hession at an earlier meeting, “and the sooner work starts the better.”

Following planning commission approval on March 10, council members gave their approval, pending meeting conditions stated in letters from the engineer and solicitor.

Council introduced the new junior council person, Cocalico High School junior Rachel Weaver of Reamstown. After introducing herself and answering questions, council approved Weaver’s term of office through Dec. 31.

Photo by Alice Hummer
Rachel Weaver, newly appointed junior 2015 Denver Council member, is congratulated by President Blake Daub.

Weaver’s activities include National Honor Society, varsity field hockey team, LEO Club, wellness assistant at Luther Acres, Reamstown Pool lifeguard, nursery attendant, and communion assistant at Faith United Lutheran Church.

Council warmly welcomed back Councilman Walt Fink, who was absent due to a serious medical illness.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers,” Fink said. “It’s been a long five-and-a-half months and I’m back now.”

In other business:

*Public Works Director George Whetsel reported that “an up-to-date list of every storm sewer in the borough was compiled so in a snowstorm we can make sure they’re all clear.”

The water-leak detection program started and on the first night “two small leaks of about 5,000 gallons per day where water was going down between the rock were identified,” Whetsel said. “It’s fixed.”

*Council granted a waiver to the Denver Lions Club from regulations to file, obtain approval, and record a Final Land Development Plan through the borough’s ordinance for the Shober Family Scout Cabin Project. This waiver was approved by the Denver Planning Commission and discussed with the Lancaster County Planning Commission, which had no opposition to it.

*Council President Blake Daub reported a productive meeting with PPL. Council, which received a grant for this project, must meet a timeline for buying back the streetlights and PPL appeared slow to respond. Assisting the borough to keep this process moving is attorney Todd Stewart, a specialist in public utilities.

*Denver Community Pool membership rates and fees were approved.

Two items are new this year: 1) A “household membership” includes a family (husband, wife, children, and grandparents) living in the same household. Couples not married qualify as long as they share a bank account listing that property as their address. Identification proving that all non-family members included on the Household Pass will be required. 2) A “Non-Swimmer Senior Citizen pass” may be purchased for any senior citizen accompanying children to the pool.

“This helps grandparents who keep grandchildren for extended periods of time over the summer,” said Hession.