During Thursday’s session, Wilkes-Barre City Council listened to many worried citizens talk about both scheduled and unscheduled issues.
One important topic on the council’s agenda was a proposal to hire Stell Enterprises Inc. for $170,578 to build an ADA walkway and pier at Kirby Park.
Mayor George Brown explained that the updates will involve constructing a new building near the playground with ADA-compliant restrooms and showers, as well as adding more pathways to Kirby Park.
Local resident Jim Burden expressed concern to the council that the 18 parks in the city are not receiving the same attention and improvements.
Burden mentioned that other parks in Wilkes-Barre are in need of attention and upgrades similar to Kirby Park and Barney Farms, as they have been neglected for many years.
Brown defended the upgrades at Kirby Park, stating that the project is funded by the Kirby Foundation, not directly by the city.
Brown also mentioned plans to upgrade the city’s other parks based on their individual needs, with initial focus on The Bog in Miners Mills.
Regarding the approval to hire Kavulich Construction Company for $35,500 to replace the floor at the Hollenback Fire Station, Burden questioned the necessity of the expense.
Burden expressed disbelief at the need to replace the floor at the fire station and compared it to the longevity of the floor in his own house.
Brown reassured Burden that the project is mainly funded through grants and emphasized the necessity of the new floor.
Brown explained that the floor at the fire station undergoes constant heavy traffic from fire trucks and ambulances, which differs from a regular house floor.
Concerns about homelessness in the city
Apart from the agenda items, several residents expressed concerns about accommodations for the homeless in the city, particularly related to shelter.
John Suchoski raised questions about the city’s approach to allowing the homeless to seek shelter in public parks and spaces.
Suchoski highlighted the presence of people living in encampments in parks and the provision of sleeping bags and tents by nonprofits, urging the city to make a decision on permitting people to camp in the parks after dark.
City Administrator Charlie McCormick explained that the city is unable to take any action concerning homelessness camps until the Supreme Court rules on whether a municipality can prohibit homeless shelters on public property, leading to a delay in the city’s decision-making.
Sam Troy, a resident of Wilkes-Barre, also expressed worries about the homeless population. He mentioned a nonprofit in the city that requires homeless individuals using their facilities to leave at 7 a.m.
Troy told the council, “Keystone Mission makes people leave at 7 a.m. when it’s the coldest part of the day. It's good to have them off the streets for cold nights, but they’re forced out at 7 a.m., so they’re back on the streets suffering. I don’t understand the reasoning behind that, and I don’t think it’s very compassionate.”
According to Brown, the organization has set operating hours due to a shortage of staff and funds.
“They determine their operating hours and how to manage staffing, so if you have an issue with people leaving at 7 a.m., I recommend you go there and discuss it with them,” Brown said. He also mentioned that the nonprofit provides shelter to the homeless during Code Blue nights, which are activated when the National Weather Service predicts windchill temperatures of 20 degrees or lower, or when there's an expected snowfall of 10 inches or more.
