SHAMOKIN - Shamokin City Council agreed Monday night to raise the television cable franchise fee one percent, approved a lease agreement for a wood chipper and granted several requests for special events to be held in the city in conjunction with the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Council members approved the first reading of an ordinance that will raise the television cable franchise fee from 4 to 5 percent, which will generate between $25,000 and $30,000 per year for the city.
Voting to raise the franchise fee were Mayor George Rozinskie and Councilmen R. Craig Rhoades, Michael Snyder and William Strausser. Councilman William Milbrand was absent.
Council entered into a lease agreement with FNB Bank for a $29,966.50 Brush Bandit wood chipper from Stephenson Equipment Inc., Harrisburg. The wood chipper will be paid with grant money obtained through the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Permission was granted to Citizens for a Better Community to organize a 17-minute fireworks display above the Cameron Coal Bank at 9:40 p.m. Sunday, July 3. The same group also will host a car cruise and show from noon to 4 p.m. July 2 in downtown Shamokin and the Amazing Coal Cracker Race at 10 a.m. July 2, starting at the Price of Freedom Monument on Lincoln Street. The race will be organized by Terry and Peach Krebs.
Council granted a request from Citizens for a Better Community to hold a curbside collection at the entrances to the city on July 3 for the fireworks display.
Council passed a motion to require all elected city officials to have a $100 co-pay for medical expenses.
Snyder said the city street department will not receive as much summer help from college students this year due to cuts in funding. He said street department employee Roy Rapp will retire June 30.
Pamela Rhoades, wife of Councilman Rhoades, was reappointed to a three-year term to the Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library Board of Trustees.
Rescue Fire Company was granted permission to close Lincoln Street to Liberty Street and the bridge near Spurzheim and Washington streets for a motorcycle poker run and pig roast on July 16.
The Sons of Italy was granted permission to block off Commerce Street between Shamokin and Franklin streets Aug. 13 for a "Make a Wish Foundation" fund-raising event.
Independence and Friendship fire companies were granted permission to conduct their annual block parties outside the fire companies on July 15 and 16 and Aug. 19 and 20, respectively.