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WILKES-BARRE — City council Tuesday night breezed through its brief agenda during a 10-minute work session, the first of the new year.
A $6,889 payment to offset the cost of new netting installed at the Hollenback Golf Course along North Washington Street prompted a discussion and questions directed at City Administrator Rick Gazenski.
“So it’s just to pay for the work that’s already been done?” asked councilman Mike Merritt, whose District E includes the public course.
Gazenski replied that the work has been completed and the city will tap into the Hollenback Verizon fund to pay the invoice.
In November 2017, council approved the purchase of the netting at a cost of $9,129 from Cascade Nets of Ferndale, Wash., to prevent errant golf balls from leaving the course and injuring people and damaging vehicles and property. The city was going to install the netting.
Council vice chairman Bill Barrett inquired about the funding source.
Verizon erected a cellphone tower in Hollenback Park years ago. But to do so, the city had to obtain a court order for the tower that was not a recreational use, explained City Attorney Tim Henry.
“And when the judge gave us the OK, he also added the stipulation to the order that any money we receive from Verizon had to go into a separate account and be used for recreational purposes,” Henry said.
Verizon paid the city a lump sum upfront, but Henry said he was unsure if the city receives monthly payments from Verizon.
Other items on the agenda for approval by council at its public meeting 6 p.m. Thursday:
• Appointment of Dr. Susan Lynn Kaczorowski, of Jenkins Township, to the city’s Board of Health.
• Appointment of Edward Pesotski, of Wilkes-Barre, to the General Municipal Authority.
• Renewal of the city excess workers compensation insurance premium through Joyce Insurance Group of Pittston at a cost of $90,476. The expiring premium cost $97,406.
• An ordinance amending the 2018 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan totaling $1,526,978.