Palmerton will have to wait a bit longer for new flags to adorn its vibrant downtown.

Borough Manager Donna McGarry informed borough council on Thursday that the delivery of the flags along Delaware Avenue are on a four-month delay.

After the meeting, McGarry said the project calls for 160 flags and 160 new poles at a cost of $4,173, to be funded through the borough’s recreation fund.

“We have reached out to some organizations that in the past have contributed to the cost of the flags, and hope to offset some of these costs with donations,” McGarry said.

Last month, McGarry said the flags along Delaware Avenue are showing their age.

CDBG funds

Also as part of her report, McGarry discussed Community Development Block Grant funds.

McGarry noted that two years ago, the north side of a portion of Mauch Chunk Road was repaved.

She said that UGI is installing a new main on the north side of Mauch Chunk, and lines down on the south side, as the work will also involve areas the borough has paved, as well as the south side that was scheduled for paving this year.

McGarry added the borough has CDBG funds allocated for Railroad Alley, and that the project would likely have taken place in 2023, though the borough may try to reprogram those funds so it can be done earlier.

Valve replacement work completed

In her last part of business, McGarry lauded the borough’s Water Department for their recent work concerning valve replacement.

She noted that the borough has had valve troubles along Delaware Avenue out to Aquashicola for many years, and that they were “a significant concern.”

McGarry said the department replaced several broken valves, and specifically acknowledged Public Works Supervisor Todd Merkel and Water Utility Coordinator Bill Strauch.

“It’s a project that’s been haunting us for a couple of years,” she said.

“We weren’t sure how long the repairs would take, but our water department did a great job.”

Last month, McGarry said the valves in the borough’s water system are very old.

Specifically, McGarry said there were concerns about the condition of the valves in the area of Eighth Street east to Little Gap Road.