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From street line painting, to co-responders trained in mental health emergencies and public works building comfort improvement, the City of Williamsport took care of business at its recent council meeting.
The street line paving project was approved in a resolution awarding construction services for the 2026 streets line paving contract as presented by Bill Scott, city engineer.
The contract goes to Road Safe Traffic Systems, which has done the work in the city.
The project was bid twice, once in April and once in June, and the city received no bids. The city then reached out to this company again and negotiated the contract, Scott said, adding the cost is in line with the price it charged two years ago.
The contract approved was for $62,251.42 and there are about 40 streets to be receiving this line paving marking work, Scott said.
The contract is covered under state liquid fuels funds.
Council President Eric Beiter asked where the city liquid fuels budget was near at this time. "I know you can't give me an exact this second but I am curious what we have left in there," he said.
Scott Livermore, director of Public Works, responded by saying roughly $1.3 million. The city still has paving to come out of that amount or roughly $400,000, so the city could carry over $400,000 to $500,000 in liquid fuels budget funds, which does not deviate much from prior years.
Salt, however, went up to $85 a ton, with last year's price at $79. He estimated spending about $90,000 on salt for the year ahead.
"I'm in good shape for that, too," he said.
Co-responder with police on mental health emergencies
A resolution was approved as presented by the Bureau of Police Capt. Aaron Levan to continue with the Center for Community Resources providing for a co-responder program to assist police on calls when health/mental health issues arise.
The program is 100 % grant funded with no money coming from the city. The agreement goes back two years.
A co-responder is a mental health professional who responds with officers and responds in the event of a mental health emergency and they provide follow up care and resources. The former co-responder moved onto another assignment to further her career.
In 2025, the co-responder was used 546 times, Levan said.
"It sounds like they are put to good use," Councilman Jonah Milliken said.
"It's a great asset for sure," Levan said.
Council also approved an ordinance to transfer $15,000 from the sale of a mower into the office of the director of the Public Works Department facility for an air conditioning unit.