Page 20 -- SUSQUEHANNA TIMES Letter to editor Council defends actions Dear Editor: This letter is a reply to the letter you printed December 29, 1976 by a life time citizen of Marietta who is so proud of that fact he or she failed to sign their name. I wonder why? Also, to the letter printed in the New Era by a Marietta citizen, again, not signed by the writer. I wonder if these Marietta citizens have driven Front Street lately or isn’t Front Street part of the Borough in their opinion? Marietta citizens are good decent, hard-working individuals from all walks of life. This also applies to Front Street residents. According to the Borough records, Front Street residents own pro- perty, pay taxes and obey Borough ordinances which are to be enforced by our Borough Police throughout the town. In my opinion there are no first, second or third class citizens. These recent articles lead me to believe that some citizens feel they are better than Front Street citizens. Perhaps this is why the letters were signed Mari- etta citizen and life time citizen of Marietta. In 1971 and ’72 Walnut Street was resurfaced at a cost of $33,000 for the 2 mile roadway. Curbs were also installed and they were paid for by the individual property owners on Walnut Street. Again, in 1974 the Borough resurfac- ed Charles Development - Essex and Pajill Drive at a cost of $57,500 for a mile roadway. At that time Council decided curbs were not necessary. It’s public record in the Council meet- ing minutes how that decision came about. I suggest you take the time to read the Borough re- cords pertaining to that street project. When you compare Front Street project to these projects the cost doesn’t seem too great. $100,000 for 1.3 mile of roadway, our second longest street in the Borough. This project is to be done in four phases in order to allow monies to maintain our other streets and do other projects. i.e., Lois on the job Longenecker Avenue and Mulberry Street from Long enecker to Fairview. These streets are also going to be resurfaced in 1977. 1 might add that if Front Street was damaged due to flood waters the Borough would receive federal monies to put the street back to its original condition. This hasn’t happened in the past floods because the street wasn’t kept in good repair by the Borough to qualify for these monies. Some citizens think that the three mill increase was due to the above street projects - that isn’t true. State fuel tax monies and revenue sharing monies are used for these projects not Borough taxes. The millage increase was necessary to balance the budget due to other increased costs. If you check the annual Bor- ough budget you will find out what services these tax dollars are spent for (again this is public record). Should Council decide that curbs are to be installed for any street project, the property owners would bear the cost. Council has Lois guards the crossing Mrs. Lois Shellenberger (Harold) 22 W. Walnut St., Marietta, is serving her 11th year as crossing guard for the boro’s school child- ren. An employee of Marietta Boro, Mrs. Shellenberger spends four hours each day, in all kinds of weather directing traffic and guard- ing children safely across the busy intersection of East Market Street and the Riverview Elementary School hill. Her main job is supposed to be protecting the stu- dents from traffic, but she DID YOU HEAR... Miss Patricia Ann Charles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur B. Charles, 822 Bruce Avenue often has to perform other services. Mothers often ask her to remind their children that the school is located at the top of the hill. (Some kids have trouble remem- bering where the school is located, it seems.) Lois has also learned to referee fist fights, and how to apply first aid to bloody noses. The Mariettian likes the part-time job since it keeps her in touch with youth and the great outdoors, and supplies her with spending money. Lois woman and is an avid fisher- loves to go Mount Joy, has maintained an average of 3.6 and is on the Dean’s List at Thomp- son’s Institute. boating. She also enjoys sewing. been advised that curbs prevent costly maintenance to a resurfaced street. The Mayor set up a police policy and schedule that he felt was best for the town and Council agreed with the policy. Our police protection remains very ~ good with the cooperation of the state police. Our full time police have been put on a 40-hour week and were given a $300 raise for 1977 in their base pay. Now the mayor and council will be able to determine if our police force is efficient due to guidelines set by the mayor. The police are to be paid time and a half for overtime which is authoriz- ed starting in January 1977. Also, our part time police received a raise for 1977. If any citizen would like to see what our police protection costs please check at the Borough Office since that, too, is public record. You will be able to compare salary increase from 1973 to 1977 in a few minutes. Also, if you think about it how high would the millage be if outsiders Letter to didn’t move into Marietta and fix up homes (and I don’t mean just the people who have restored homes). Just ten years ago Marietta had a depressed look. Houses were vacant and many were in need of necessary attention. Since then many of these homes have been remodeled and restored and some new homes were built. Preser- vation is probably the best word to use concerning our town, since I'm sure tax payers here would join me in wanting to see their town as a whole, streets, trees, parks and homes well preserved. Marietta can remain a clean, safe and decent place to live. So I am sure most Marietta citizens are proud to be a part of the Borough of Marietta. The Borough turned down Turkey Hill and the steak shop due to spot zoning. If these two commercial businesses were approved our present zoning laws would not protect any residential areas in town. Also if trash was put out only the night before collection and all editor Cactus in Washington Boro Dear Editor Here are photos of my cactus. I plant them out in the summer and they grow as much as 18 in. in one year. My first cousin from California lives in Arizona in Winter and in California in summer. I had him send some photos. When my cousin Hermon and Ester Hess came in to visit these relatives a few years ago, they brought these photos along to show them to their relatives in Columbia. They said cactus really bloom in Arizona. Hermon said it is not Arizona its Lancaster County. I got one 2’’ high at the S & 10 store. It grew over 12 feet. 1 planted them outside the last week in April and plant them in the last week of October. John H. Burkholder Washington Boro These photos came with the letter January 19, 1977 trash was properly placed in containers it wouldn’t be all over our streets. If our garbage collection outfit drops trash they are re- quired to pick it up and have in the past. In closing I might add I would like to meet the citizens who wrote the previous letters to the editor and shake their hand saying I am damn proud to be a citizen of Marietta, an elected Borough official and encourage any outsider to work or live in a town that I feel is as good as any in this free country we all enjoy. signed: Oliver C. Overlander II (President, Council) Co-signed: David White (Vice President Council) Bernard R. McDivitt (Mayor) John W. Hinkle (Councilman) James R. Howell (Councilman) John P. Reuter (Councilman) Earl V. Roberts (Councilman)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers