FACTORYVILLE — Members of Factoryville Borough Council discussed issues of trespassing at the Factoryville-Clinton Township Joint Municipal Park during a monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

“We’ve been having problems with college students driving through to the top of the hill,” Borough Manager Mary Ellen Buckbee said. “I’ve stopped people and (Maintenance and Sewer Plant Operator) Steve (Swift) has stopped people. We found a car at Keystone College and put a warning sticker it.”

Buckbee also asked Keystone College to send an email to students alerting them they are not allowed to drive through the park.

“They are welcome to use the parks, but they must not drive in the park and must park in the assigned parking areas,” Buckbee added. “In addition, a week ago the park board authorized the purchase of signs that will be posted to indicate the driving restrictions.”

Council Vice President Bill Edwards believes the borough should consider hiring someone to help maintain both Christy Mathewson and the Factoryville-Clinton Township Joint Municipal parks. He mentioned Dalton Borough employs a part-time worker during the summer months.

“We made the parks and got all the grant money,” he said. “People have put a lot of time and effort into the parks, I don’t want to see them in disarray. We need to take care of them.”

In the Parks and Recreation report, Councilman David Truitt reported he is working on a sign for the play pockets at Christy Mathewson Park. Swift added a bike rack has also been delivered and installed at the park.

Grant Writer Sadie Rozenburg announced the borough plans to apply for a grant through the Department of Environmental Protection to install pervious pavement in the parking lot behind borough hall. The total cost of the project is $131,000. Borough council members passed a motion to spend $5,000 as a match to the grant.

“We wanted to pave this parking lot since 2002, but never found the funding for it,” Buckbee said.

Council members also approved a design for new steps in the rear of borough hall.

According to Rozenburg, the concession stand project at the Clinton Township-Factoryville Joint Municipal Park continues to move forward. She is hopeful it will be completed by next spring.

“Our volunteers have done incredible work,” Borough President Charles Wrobel said. “The time and effort they put in is beautiful. Not many other communities can boast the volunteer work we have here.”

Members of Factoryville Borough Council will meet for a regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at borough hall, 161 College Ave.

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941or on Twitter @rtomkavage.