During Monday’s meeting, Weissport Borough Council further discussed plans regarding the implementation of a “pump track,” a biking track where riders use momentum from up and down pumping motions to navigate a track rather than pedaling. The attraction plans to include biking for all ages, all free of cost to the public.

Members of a mountain bike club in Northeast Pennsylvania originally approached the council with the idea last month. Currently the club is offering to cover all costs and building labor of the pump track while Weissport will retain ownership of the land that the track will be built upon.

The club does not have permission to start official construction as of now. A previous motion was made for more investigation to take place regarding permits and insurance before moving forward with the project.

Aside from the pump track potentially aiding local businesses in the area, environmental benefits exist as well in connection to the removal of the invasive tree of heaven.

By removing the trees in the area of the track, Councilman Thomas Ketchledge explained that the borough could lessen the number of spotted lanternflies as well.

“When they built another track before, they had the environmental corps come out and they took the trees down and they sprayed them to kill them off because in the last stages of the spotted lanternfly reproduction, they need the tree of heaven to finalize their reproduction. So if we get rid of the trees of heaven, then they can’t reproduce so they’re gonna leave this area.”

With roughly 20 trees of heaven in the area where they plan to build the pump track, their removal could help lessen the spread of the invasive species.

Council President Arland Moyer Sr. also announced that the borough adopted a resolution to hire zoning officer Marty Sowers, who will begin work at the beginning of 2021.

A public notice providing meeting information and important dates for the upcoming year was provided as well.

The next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Jan. 4.