Projects

     The following projects are ongoing or being researched by the Borough Council.  This list is not all inclusive and is subject to change at any time.  Stop by a Borough Council meeting to learn the latest on what is happening in your borough!

Last Updated: January 22nd, 2013

- New Memorial Park on Baltimore Street (updated January 22, 213): Council is working with the York County Economic Alliance, York County Planning Commission, the Rec Board and other organizations to install a new park on Baltimore Street where the old community building used to stand.  We have had a landscape architect from RGS Associates develop a concept drawing for the park.  We are now appealing to the York County Planning Commission for permission to move forward on the concept.

- Vultures! (updated June 29, 2012):  The Borough is looking into the problems caused by the vulture population in town.  Council met with three personnel from the US Dept of Agriculture on February 23rd to discuss vulture management practices and options for the Borough.  The meeting included site visits to four vulture roosting locations in the Borough.  USDA provided three options to the Borough at varying costs to encourage the vultures to move to other locations outside the Borough.  Currently, council is working with residents to harass the birds to encourage them to move outside the Borough. 

    The Borough has also purchased several pyrotechnic guns and placed them with residents around town.  These pistols shoot “screamers” to encourage the vultures to move.  The use of firearms or pyrotechnics to harass the birds is illegal without a special permit from the Borough.  The Borough is also trying to acquire a depredation permit to kill a select number of birds to use their bodies as effigies as another harassment technique.  Unfortunately, the Borough has not received enough damage data from residents to justify the permit. Please contact the Borough to provide damage information, caused by the vultures, to help justify the depredation permit.

Those who use the pyro pistols must abide by the following rules for the safety of all residents:

-          Basic firearms safety is paramount.  Follow all normal firearms safety precautions.

-          Be cognizant of what is beyond or down range of where you are shooting.  If there are houses and people, don’t shoot in that direction.

-          The screamers don’t need to be aimed at the birds to be effective.  The noise in the vicinity should be enough.  Shoot up in the air, not laterally or downhill where hazards to people and property are increased.

-          Realize that the screamers have small rocket motors and get very hot.  They could start a fire if they land in the wrong environment.  It is a good idea to have a small fire extinguisher on hand when using the pistols.

-          Try to shoot them such that the used shells can be retrieved so as to not create a trash problem with neighbors.

To learn more about the Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures, download these flyer’s from USDA: Vultures fact sheet & NWRC vulture brochure. WARNING: Vultures are protected birds and must be dealt with in accordance with Federal and State law.  Do not take these matters into your own hands!

- Tropical Storm Lee damage and repair (updated January 22, 2013): Glen Rock Borough has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to assess the damage caused by the flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.  Eligible repairs will be completed with FEMA paying 75% and PEMA paying 25%.  The Borough had damage to the library basement, Codorus Street, the fence along the stream by Water St, and the stream retaining wall. 

• The Borough awarded a contract to A & M Fencing to replace the fence along the stream north of Water Street.  The fence has been fixed. 

• The library basement repairs have been bid to repair the damaged walls. 

• We believe FEMA will provide $65,000 to repair the damaged section of retaining wall along Codorus Street.  At the January 2013 meeting, Council awarded the job of replacing the stream wall to Bishard General Excavating for $45,139.60.  The repair will be much like what was done along the municipal parking lot.  Work will be completed by March 2013.

-  Storm Sewer Evaluation and Reconstruction (updated October 10, 2012):  Glen Rock Borough has been awarded a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Growing Greener II Community Environmental Initiative Grant.  OK, that certainly is a mouthful!  What it means is the Borough has been awarded up to $233,750 to assess some of our storm sewers via video camera to figure out which ones are in the most dire need of repair.  The Borough’s monetary requirement for the grant is $42,000.  A large portion of the money will be used to repair the storm sewer itself.  The intention is to improve storm water drainage and reduce unwanted runoff into the South Branch of the Codorus Creek and therefore the Chesapeake Bay.  Church Street will be a high priority because the storm sewer there is causing sink-holes in the pavement that often require expensive repairs.  Other areas of concern are the lower portions of Hanover and Manchester Streets.  The Borough has awarded the bid for the videoing of the sewer system worth just under $6,000.  The videoing was completed in December, 2011. 

The video revealed numerous pipes that go through the storm sewer on Church Street.  These pipes will need to be relocated before the storm sewer can be repaired/replaced.  The companies that “own” these pipes (Gas, Water & Sewer, etc) will be relocating the pipes first before the storm sewer can be repaired.  The actual repair of the storm sewer and repaving of Church Street will likely be done in the Spring & Summer of 2013.

-  Downtown Revitalization (updated October 10, 2012):  Council is looking for innovative ways to revitalize the downtown area.  We have met with the York County Planning Commission, the York County Economic Development Corporation, and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center to determine the best way to develop a vision and multi-year plan for improvement.  Council has also met with local residents and business owners to gain input from the community.  We are still seeking input from the community and interested parties.  Council is trying to get input from a developer on potential uses for the old Oakworks/AMF building or other underutilized buildings in the borough.  Also, we may be able to secure an architect to do a rendition of the future vision of the downtown area.  Stay tuned for more info.  Anyone wishing to help with this project, please contact the Borough office or the webmaster.  Council is also considering turning the vacant lot on Baltimore Street into a pocket park.  We are collecting ideas now to come up with a design.

-  Start-up of a Glen Rock Business Association (updated Oct. 27, 2011):  Council is meeting with local business owners to determine the feasibility of organizing a Glen Rock Business Association for the betterment of local merchants and residents.  We are in need of three interested local business owners who are willing to get this initiative off the ground.  If you are willing to help, contact the Borough Office or send an e-mail to the Webmaster (link at the bottom of the page).

-  Possible Lighting Improvements in Downtown Area:  Council is looking into improved lighting in the downtown area.

 - Curb and Sidewalk Repairs on Church Street (updated Jan 22, 2013):  Glen Rock has been awarded another Community Development Block Grant by the York County Planning Commission to repair/replace some of the curb and sidewalk on Church Street.  This grant is worth $100,000 and will be a project for 2013.  This grant money will be used in conjunction with the Growing Greener Grant which will focus on Church street storm sewer repair.  This grant would  then help repair the curb and sidewalk on Church street following the repair of the storm sewer. 

Completed Projects!

     Here are just a few of the recently completed projects.  We hope you enjoy the results!

-  Municipal Parking Lot Improvements (completed October 2012):  Borough Council acquired a $110,000 EPA Grant to pave the parking lot next to the library with a semi-permeable pavement and put in rain gardens to help reduce storm water runoff into the South Branch of the Codorus Creek.  Council had also secured an additional $24,000 Grant through the York County Conservation District to restore the stream bank along the parking lot.  The total project cost is $195,515.  Bids were received and the project was awarded to Shiloh Paving and Excavating.   This project will go a long way to spruce up downtown, not to mention the obvious reduction in storm water runoff and pollutants into the creek. 

Look at the before and after pictures!!

 - School Street (completed October 2012):  The retaining wall that supports School Street was being pushed out over time and had to be secured or the wall may collapse.  The repair included soil nails drilled through the wall and into the ground beyond the wall.  This will keep the wall from moving further.  After the wall was secured, School Street was repaved.    This project was put out to bid and awarded at the April, 2012 Council meeting.  The total cost for the repair is just over $207,000.

- Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Grant (completed Oct. 2011):  The Council won a grant for up to 40 gallons of paint and $200 in paint supplies to paint the Borough Maintenance Building on Valley Street.  Read more about the grant here: Fresh Paint Days for Glen Rock .  Here is a slide show with before and after pictures:  Click Here.

 -  Cottage Ave Paving (completed Sept. 2011):  The Borough received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) worth up to $106,000 to repave Cottage Ave.  This grant application was submitted three years ago and will finally pay off for Glen Rock.  Gas and water lines were replaced prior to the paving.  The total cost was projected to be $111,070.56.  The actual cost was $106,046.27!!  So aside from the engineering costs (roughly $10,000), the project cost the Borough $46.27!  Now that is a success story!

- New Outfield Fence at the Park (completed Spring 2011):  There is a new outfield fence at the baseball field.  The old one was deteriorating and becoming a hazard.  It was also too short (4 feet).  The new fence is vinyl coated to last a long time and is 6 feet tall with an even taller section in the middle.  This project was done in coordination and financed  with the Glen Rock Rec Board and the Glen Rock Athletic Association.

-  Tear Down of the Old Community Building on Baltimore St. (completed Fall 2010):  Although we will miss the old community center as it once was, the dilapidated building was an eyesore.  This demolition was funded by a Community Development Block Grant.  The lot now looks fresh and opens the area up nicely.  Let’s see what we can do with this area in the future!   Also, a big thank you to Bob Machovec for painting the sides of the newly exposed buildings…it is a nice improvement to the area!

-  Borough Website: So, what do you think?  We hope this site gets a lot of use from the residents of Glen Rock.  It will always be a work in progress and we look forward to your suggestions.

-  Spring Cleanup:  The 2011 Spring / downtown cleanup was a big success thanks to all the volunteers who gave their time and a big thanks to all the businesses that donated to the cause.  The project was supported by the Watershed Alliance of York, Wetzels, Mignano Bros, and many many area residents.  Check out these pictures of the event:

For Questions and Comments about this website, contact the webmaster via e-mail:  Webmaster@glenrockpa.org