Bowmanstown would like to see a stronger state police presence to help it offset speeding, drugs, and stop sign violations in the borough.

Borough council discussed a request for an official letter from the borough to Pennsylvania State Police requesting coverage.

Councilman Rob Moyer noted that in the past, council has always had Mayor Zach Snyder talk to state police.

Wastewater treatment plant operator Chris Bixler said that unfortunately, phone calls haven’t made a difference.

“There’s still a town in American that needs to be patrolled,” Bixler said. “Also, the drug problem.”

Councilman William Ravert said he would talk with state Rep. Doyle Heffley about it to see what he can do.

Vehicles speeding in the borough has been a regular topic of consternation for some time.

In June, resident Kelly Solt told council that she noticed since Craig Street was blacktopped, there has been an increase in cars speeding.

Solt said there are bear, deer, and elderly people who live around there, yet there are trucks and cars that race. She brought up the possibility of speed bumps.

Council briefly discussed the matter of speed bumps on Tuesday, but no action was taken on that front.

Council has routinely fielded concerns from residents about speeding in the borough.

In February, it was announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation performed a traffic study concerning the speed limit reduction request for Fireline Road.

PennDOT said there is no one factor or combination of factors that warrants the lowering of the existing 40 mph speed limit.

As a result, PennDOT said the speed limit along Fireline Road will not be lowered based on the results of a traffic study.

In September 2022, council voted to contact PennDOT about the study with the condition that it would not cost the borough any money.

Council’s decision came after a resident in August asked about repairing a hole on Fireline Road, as well as lowering the speed limit.

Council wanted to reduce the speed limit from 40 mph to either 30 or 35 mph.

In June 2022, Bixler said he was concerned by the number of burnouts he’s witnessed on borough roads.

Bixler said at that time not only is it a safety concern, but also reckless driving.

Snyder said then that state police do their best to assist, but are short-staffed.

Bixler said the issue of burnouts is borough-wide.