The City of Williamsport has a card access system with the public works department to get into the mulch pile at 1500 W. Third St.

Before, the cards were provided through the River Valley Transit office, said Kris Black, city information technology coordinator.

It will not be any different for those who have cards to use the mulch pile, he told the City Council. The only difference is that they will go to the public works building instead of the River Valley Transit Authority next door to get the cards.

The cost to the city for this is $6,660 over 36 months. The money will be taken from the public works or the streets and parks contracted services budget.

“How does someone obtain the card to get into the mulch pile?” asked Councilman Eric Beiter.

“They stop by the general offices at (public works) streets and parks,” Black said. “They get their picture taken, they pay their fee,” he said. “They prove that they are a resident of the city.”

“When does this go into effect?” asked Councilman Randy Allison.

“They currently have one now,” Black said. “It’s just that we will be taking it over from River Valley Transit, and bring it onto our own system, so they are not going over to RVTA’s office,” he said.

This will ensure it is a Williamsport resident, within the city limits, as there have been individuals who just provide a Williamsport address.

“If we have a card now we will have to get a different one then, is that correct?” Allison said.

“Yes, at some point, you will,” Black said. “What we’d like to do is probably expire all these cards on a certain date, make the people come in and give them a card.

“Okay, that makes sense,” Allison said, adding this change will have to be publicized.

“Yes,” Black said.

The Bureau of Fire agreement with Cumberland Marine was approved as presented by city Deputy Chief Kenneth Smith. The bureau had a boat trailer damaged beyond repair in the spring. With the working relationship between the bureau and Cumberland Marine, they graciously made arrangements to get a trailer up here, which was something the bureau had on its wish list with the city grant writers, Smith said.

“They let us loan one to get us by so we were still in operation for our swiftwater rescue team,” Smith said of Cumberland Marine.

Since then, and thanks to Melanie Shutt, city grants administrator, and Valerie Fessler, executive director of the city department of community and economic development and planning, and Liz Vollman, from state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, the bureau has been able to secure all but $2,500 for a complete total cost of the trailer. “That being said, we also have the $2,500 in our miscellaneous costs (budget) that can absorb this,” he said. “If it weren’t for our wonderful (ladies staff) that write grants and our senator’s office this would not be possible right now.”

“Finance was firmly in favor of a largely free boat trailer,” Councilwoman Liz Miele, chair of the finance committee, said. She added the committee was grateful to all the people who got the money and made it happen this year.

Council has approved an ordinance designating Buck Run Alley, between Eldred Street and Lyons Ave., according to Bill Scott, city engineer. This designation will assist in ending any confusion with emergency response and delivery service on what used to be an unnamed alley. The process is ongoing with geographic information systems (GIS) in the county for other unnamed alleys.

Stephen Petro was appointed to a lifetime term on Way’s Garden Commission. He replaces Paul Nyman who resigned.

Council accepted a contract for audit services with Maher Duessel, said Jamie Livermore, city finance director.