Visitors entering Tamaqua from the south have been greeted by a new “Welcome to Tamaqua” sign for the past few months and council is approving adding welcome signs along the three other major entrances to the town.

Council approved a motion to purchase three more signs on Tuesday night to be placed along 309 at the north end of town, and along the east and west sides of town along route 209. Neighborhoods, downtown and historic district committee Chairman Tom Cara said sponsors have been obtained for two of the three signs, which will cost approximately $2,400, along with the posts for the installations, which will run about $600.

Councilwoman Mary Linkevich asked council to resume the review of the Working Woodlands Program at the Owl Creek Reservoir. Linkevich said the program had gotten off the ground about two years ago but didn’t move forward. She said she recently attended an Owl Creek Reservoir Commission meeting and all parties are still interested in the program. She recommended the borough start with a rapid forest assessment, which would let the borough know if the Owl Creek reservoir was even eligible for the program. Since the program was already approved, council agreed to continue under the original motion to proceed.

Several residents of Owl Creek Road asked what plans the borough has to repair a stretch of the road.

“It’s absolutely horrible,” said Claudia Krell, who lives and owns a business along the road. “I have family in Summit Hill and I travel that way regularly. My father is the mayor of Summit Hill and he’s constantly complaining about it. I have clients who refuse to travel that way, it’s so bad.”

Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said the borough has looked at paving the area, but frankly does not have the money to do the project.

“It’s just so darn expensive,” he said.

A neighbor of Krell’s said she has lost three hubcaps because of the potholes.

Councilman Ron Bowman said the road is in such bad shape that tar and chip would not help the situation.

“It has to be leveled first,” he explained.

The road on the Carbon County side is a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation road, and the borough considered asking if the Schuylkill side could be turned over to PennDOT as well.

Council also heard from John Handler, a resident of West Broad Street, who asked if the “school zone” parking restrictions would be lifted now that the St. Jerome Regional School has relocated to Hometown. Council referred the matter to the parking and traffic committee.

Several recommendations were approved, including:

• Placement of Anthracite 250 anniversary signs along Route 309 and at other strategic points in the community.

• A handicap parking space application for 108 Pitt St.

• An ordinance establishing a stop intersection for southbound traffic on Swatara Street at the intersection with Van Gelder.

• Prohibition of parking in front of the main entrance to Trinity United Church at 22 Layfayette St. and also between the signs on the east side of the 200 block of Washington Street along the stone wall.

• A request from RUNegades to hold a 5K and 10K run at the reservoir on May 12.