2025-10-14 Council Minutes
MILLHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL
225 EAST MAIN STREET
P.O. BOX 421
MILLHEIM, PA 16854
(CENTRE COUNTY)
PHONE (814)-349-5350 FAX (814)-349-5733
REGULAR MEETING
October 14, 2025
Katie Blume called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with the pledge of allegiance. Council members in attendance: Robert Zeigler, Cecilia Gallup Beth Cottrell and Nickelaus Engle. Also in attendanceCim Besecker, Borough Treasurer and Denise Immel, Borough Secretary. Absent: Mayor Steve Myers and Solicitor John Miller.
Citizens present: Tammy Myers, Russ Burkholder, John Segursky, Buchart Horn and Dave Swanson, Hodson Energy
Citizens input: Russ Burkholder inquired if the Borough has given any thought to expand the water lines beyond the Borough property line and if it were possible to expand into Penn Township. He feels the lack of public water affects the ability for the Burkholder’s Country Market to expand and better service the Penns Valley area.
A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to approve the September 08, 2025 council minutes, seconded by Robert Zeigler. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to approve the September 2025 financials as presented, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
Code Enforcement/HARB/Planning Commission reports:
The Code Enforcement report was reviewed with no questions or comments. No reports from HARB or Planning Commission.
Employee Report:
With budget season right around the corner time was spent gathering prices for two replacement brooms for sweepers that will be needed in the spring. We are also pricing a skid steer and tooth bucket, with the age of the current skid steer and the money we will have to start putting into it is well worth replacing the skid steer.
I have priced out and printed all of the prices to go along with everything.
Salt has been delivered, we will start stockpiling our anti-skid and salt mix. We are aware of the percent difference we are supposed to account for in salt anti-skid use. Depending on the weather conditions we will do our best but we also have to keep our roads clear and town safe. We will be gearing up for fall cleanup and recycling what we can when it comes to chippings and leaf compost.
New Action Items
Invoices:
A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to pay invoice #ZA82500779 in the amount of $3,700.00 to Sensus for the auto read software support, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to pay invoice #128315 in the amount of $1,454.44 to Buchart Horn for services rendered on equalizer tank, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to pay invoice #128317 in the amount of $6,000.00 and invoice #128854 in the amount of $4,600.00 to Buchart Horn for services rendered on the raw water main replacement project, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
Pusateri – EDU reduction:
A letter has been received for property at 161 East Main Street to reduce EDU from 1.5 to 1 as Ms. Pusateri will not be holding grief counselling at the residence. The property will be solely a single family residence. A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to reduce EDU to one for single family residence, seconded by Robert Zeigler. Motion passed.
Heimerman – tree removal
Mr Heimerman is purchasing the property located at 123 Penn Street which runs to the edge of Elk Creek. There is a tree on the other side of the creek, on Borough property that overhangs the creek. He is seeking approval to remove the tree. A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to approve Mr. Heimerman’s request, providing only a hand saw be used for tree removal and Mr. Heimerman assumes all liability and responsibility, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
September minute amendment:
A motion was made by Nickelaus Engle to amend the August minutes, under Planning Commission – in the second paragraph from member Gonzalo Rubio sent in a letter expressing his concerns to Gonzalo Rubio sent in a letter on behalf of Planning Commission and at the request of Planning Chair Gary Stine expressing their concerns, with blight, derelict properties and similar matter within the borough. seconded by Robert Zeigler, Motion passed.
Municipal response Kerstetter minor subdivision:
A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to authorize the signing of Municipal Response from Centre County planning with we have no comments, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
Old Action Items
Budget dates:
Budget meeting will be held on October 29 and 30 beginning at 7:00 PM in council chamber located at 225 East Main Street.
Infrastructure updates:
DCED Multimodal Bridge Grant:
Buchart Horn have been working with their structural engineer sub consultant Chilton Designs to finalize drawings and specifications for bidding. They are waiting for his final drawings. Based upon field conditions Chilton Design is requesting that we get a Geotech report done to ensure that they have the proper bearing. Buchart Horn has received proposals from Hillis Carnes and Converse Consultants for this work. Hillis Carnes: $10,390.00, Converse Consultants: $18,140.00, this fee will be pulled from the approved engineering fee and billed to the Borough directly and not through Buchart Horn. A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to approve Hillis Carnes to prepare the Geotech report, seconded by Nickelaus Engle. Motion passed.
Equalization Tank:
Buchart Horn has discussed the issues and changes to try to get a better price proposal for the civil work. The permit application is in the works and will be submitted this week.
Raw Water Main Replacement:
Project construction has begun. All of the pipe is now installed. The contractor must make the two interconnections to have the line go live. The valve in the gate house of the dam was found to be nonfunctioning. In order to complete the connection the contractor is having a line stop installed to make the connection. A valve will also be added just downstream of the dam to ensure that the dam flow can be shut off in the future. Robert Zeigler made a motion to approve Change Order No. 1 for the line stop in the amount of $18,142.85, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
Nickelaus Engle made a motion to pay Hogan’s Heroes Inc., dba JD Construction the first installment in the amount of $197,023.78 which includes work thru September 26, 2025, seconded by Beth Cottrell . Motion passed.
Robert Zeigler made a motion to accept and sign change order #1 in the amount of $18,142.85, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
Assisting First Responders Policy:
A motion was made by Nickelaus Engle to add the First Responder’s policy to the employee handbook, pending review by Solicitor Miller, seconded by Robert Zeigler. Motion passed.
Hodson Energy:
A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to accept and sign the new solar lease with Hodson Energy pending Solicitor Miller’s review and acceptance, seconded by Nickelaus Engle. Motion passed.
Centre County Liquid Fuels:
A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to approve the submission of the liquid fuels application to Centre County for the paving of North High Street, Hillcrest Avenue and Cherry Street, seconded by Nickelaus Engle. Motion passed.
VCBA – no report
Lion’s Club offer to Millheim for park and pool – updates
Secretary’s Report:
A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to hire Ehrlich Pest control to do routine maintenance on the building to mitigate the existing bee situation, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
A motion was made to approve and submit the Municipal Retirement in the amount of $12,000.00, $2,756.80 being from general and balance coming from state aid, seconded by Cecilia Gallup. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to adjourn, seconded by Cecilia Gallup. Motion passed.
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Denise Immel, Borough Secretary