Future paving projects are going to look different in Jim Thorpe Borough as the municipality tries to incorporate stormwater management improvements that may leave homeowners with a sizable bill.

Before such projects get underway, however, council wants to make sure residents understand the process and get their feedback. That opportunity will come at a public meeting, called specifically for this topic, on Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall.

“In conjunction with our paving projects in the future, residents may be required to pay for installation or repair of curbs and sidewalks, and the removal of some trees, among other items,” Council President Greg Strubinger said during January’s council meeting. “That may involve paying some or all of the cost depending on the location and what stormwater work would be involved. We want to ensure residents have the opportunity to understand how this will work and answer any questions they may have about the process.”

Some of the items, such as sidewalk repairs, Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said, are the responsibility of property owners per the Pennsylvania Borough Code and local Jim Thorpe ordinances.

“We feel this is the best way to go about getting our stormwater issues addressed,” Strubinger said. “We’ve had some flooding issues, we’re going to be facing MS4 regulations in the future and this helps us get in line with those.”

Front Street project

Jim Thorpe hopes to begin its new approach with a paving project on Front Street, stretching from Center to South Street, impacting five property owners.

Last year, Daniel Wilusz of Barry Isett and Associates told the borough its existing drainpipe sizes are sufficient to handle a 25-year storm flow, but a different type of pipe and larger inlets are needed.

Existing conveyance pipes under Front Street are terra cotta, or clay pipes.

“Terra cotta pipes were last typically installed in the early 1900s, so the pipes in question are quite old and past their usable life,” Wilusz said. “It’s our experience that terra cotta pipes are very brittle and will fracture if excavated or modified in any way.”

Wilusz recommended the borough replace them with new high-density polyethylene, or concrete pipe.

Current stormwater inlets will be replaced with larger, 2-by-4-foot inlets.

Two new inlets and around 200 feet of 15-inch pipe will help drain the historic low spot, which is 100 feet to the north of South Street.

Project cost estimates

According to the most recent estimates, given in November, the entire project is slated to cost about $262,000.

One side of the street fronts Twining Park, which is entirely borough owned, meaning property owners on the other side will have an opportunity to join with the municipality to keep costs down.

If property owners join with the borough, the borough will cover most costs, including sidewalk installation, tree removal and design/application fees.

That would reduce the property owners’ cost down to an estimated $27 per linear foot for curbing, for a total contribution of between $1,485 and $3,375 per property owner.

If the property owner does not join with the borough, and chooses to have their own professionals or contractors do the work, curbing increases to an estimated $56 per linear foot, and they will also have to pay the costs for the sidewalk repair, design/application fees and tree removal.

That would increase the cost per property owner to between and $9,505 and $23,875.

Councilwoman Jessica Crowley said during the Jan. 13 council meeting that she is opposed to making property owners pay thousands of dollars for curbing.

“People have spoken out that they do not like the fact the cost is being put on the residents for a project that the borough is undertaking, not them,” Crowley said.

Property owners, Strubinger responded, do have a responsibility for sidewalks and similar items.

“I’m sure people who live in areas prone to significant flooding would appreciate this initiative,” he said. “I’ve already talked to some of my neighbors and agreed to help them curb the area that is a problem for my property. There are others out there who welcome this to protect their properties.”