Emmaus resident Edwin Cruz appeared before Emmaus Borough Council Feb. 21 to ask for the cinder to be cleaned up from the street in the 500 to 600 blocks of Broad Street. “It is so filthy,” Cruz said. He said the cinder is on the homes in his block. “Please clean our street.” Cruz asked for the “no parking signs” to be placed twice a year for the borough to clean the streets.

Borough Manager Shane Pepe said he would look into the matter.

Gene Clock, president of the Knauss Homestead Preservation Society provided a six month review for council.

“The executive committee met with the general administration committee Nov. 9, 2016. We paid the borough our utility arrears in full and discussed working together on repairs to the house and barn.”

Clock thanked the borough for installing a new heating system in the house. A number of fundraisers have been held and others are being discussed and implemented in the next 30 days.

The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society now has 14 board members and 108 members. The annual membership meeting will be held May 6 at the Emmaus Moravian Church.

In other business, Fred Mussel, secretary/treasurer of Cedarbrook Sportsmen requested a donation to stock Furnace Dam with trout. The group asked for a donation of $500 this year as the price of fish food has increased over $17 a bag to $37. The first day of trout season is April 1 and the group hopes to stock Furnace Dam by March 28. This was approved.

Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance to remove a residential handicapped parking sign in front of 556 Ridge St.

In the committee reports, Councilman Nathan Brown reported on the most recent public works meeting where five year project planning was discussed as well as determining how those projects will be funded.

Demolition on the 33. E. Minor St. building is 80 percent complete due to the mild weather.

Regarding the 10th Street culvert update, the borough was granted an easement from the adjacent property owners for project staging. The bid has been prepared and is the process of being advertised. The bid opening is scheduled for the end of March.

In the parks and recreation committee report, Councilman Roy Anders reported the request for the World Tai Chi Day event on the Triangle 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 29. Approximately 50 people are expected.

In addition, an internal policy has been developed to handle the various field booking requests.

“Paying customers can book any field that is already booked by Emmaus Youth Association or the high school, as long as the customer books and pays at least 21 days in advance. The only time this does not apply is if EYA or the high school has a game already scheduled during this time. We cannot and will not bump a game from a time slot.”

Anders is listed as the primary contact for EYA and will keep the website current so the borough can view bookings. If a paying customer attempts to book less than 21 days prior to the date, the borough will not bump a team from the field. Pepe has been viewing demonstrations at different sites for an online booking platform.

The batting cages are being installed at community field beyond right field at a cost of approximately $6,300 courtesy of the high school boosters, according to Emmaus High School Baseball Coach Mike Melhalik. The borough has agreed to incur the cost of paving since the cage will be available to EYA and citizens.

Melhalik said the goal for the 2018 baseball season will be to put in a new scoreboard.

Anders asked residents not to leave large items out for an extended period of time such as televisions. “It doesn’t look good,” Anders said. “Please don’t leave large items out.” Residents were reminded the next electronics recycling date is noon to 6 p.m. March 13. A list of accepted items can be found on the borough’s website www.borough.emmaus.pa.us or by calling 800-827-3168.

The next council meeting will be held 7 p.m. March 6 at Emmaus Borough Hall, 28 S. 4th St., Emmaus.