Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates on Borough Operations

Coronavirus Information

TEMPORARY OPERATIONAL CHANGES DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

The Borough’s focus is to work with county, state and Federal officials to limit the spread of this virus.  This being the case, the Borough of Ebensburg is modifying its operations to protect our residents and employees as a response to the current Coronavirus outbreak. All interaction between the public and borough staff will now be conducted by telephone or e-mail.

BOROUGH-OWNED BUILDINGS ARE ALL NOW CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. PAYMENTS FOR BOROUGH WATER/SEWER/STORMWATER/GARBAGE AND ALL PERMITS, PROGRAMS AND PARKING TICKETS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN A DROP BOX AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, ON-LINE, THROUGH THE MAIL OR BY TELEPHONE.

At this time, our offices will remain open for essential Borough business.  We are promoting the practice of social distancing.  Visitors are not permitted in the building for any purpose. No meetings with visitors will be scheduled at this time, and it is requested that residents call our office, or email Borough staff, to discuss concerns or ask questions before coming to the Borough offices.  By working together to limit social contact, we all can aid in protecting the most vulnerable residents in our community.

In order to ensure the safety of all our residents and staff, the following operational changes for the following Borough departments have been implemented until further notice:

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

The Administrative Offices are working under normal office hours, with the exception of in-person meetings.  Any emails, telephone calls, as well as complaints will be responded to as soon as possible.

Garbage/Recycling Collection

The collection of your garbage and recycling has not been affected and is still on your normal collection day.

Contacting the Borough Departments:

Borough Manager Dan Penatzer – 814-472-8780               dlpen@ebensburgpa.com

Borough Front Office – 814-472-8780                                   eburg@ebensburgpa.com

Public Works Director Jeff Evans – 814-472-8780              jevans@ebensburgpa.com

Recreation Director Dirk Johnson – 814-472-4277      djohnson@ebensburgpa.com

Tax Collector Charlene Remillard – 814-846-4764              taxoffice@ebensburgpa.com

Community Dev. Director Danea Koss – 814-472-8414      dkoss@ebensburgpa.com

Police Department – 814-472-8930                                         police@ebensburgpa.com

Mayor Randy Datsko – 814-472-8780                                      mayor@ebensburgpa.com

Building Codes & Permits – 814-471-0424                               info@lmiagency.org

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Police emergency operations will not be limited, however, the method of communication and service for non-life-threatening calls will be altered.  Police Officers may limit their own access to confined areas including homes and businesses.  Officers may be requesting callers to meet outside and will maintain a social distance.  If and when possible, Officers will be requesting phone numbers to take reports by phone or may request e-mails for detailed information.

We strongly request that you be honest about any illnesses when requesting assistance from police, fire, and EMS.  Our first responders cannot provide the necessary services if they have been exposed to a potential virus.  If you believe you are experiencing the symptoms of the Coronavirus, follow the directives of the CDC and communicate with your doctor to determine the best measures.

The police, fire and EMS services are here and will continue to provide the services you need.  It may look and feel much different, but they will provide the service regardless.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT (RECREATION & PUBLIC WORKS):

Community Parks

The community parks and playgrounds are still open at this time.  Parks are not cleaned on a regular basis, and the public uses those at your own risk.  Please take the appropriate steps to social distance and no gatherings more than 10 are recommended. Restroom facilities at all parks are closed.

YPCC

The YPCC is closed to the general public and staff is taking this time to do extra spring cleaning in anticipation of your return later this year.

Tennis Center

The Tennis Center is closed to the general public.

Swimming Pool

The pool is still scheduled to open on May 23rd subject to the situation at that time.

LAND USE, ZONING OPINIONS, LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS, SUBDIVISIONS

Contact the Borough Manager’s office above.

MEETINGS OF BOROUGH COUNCIL AND ALL BOARDS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

Meetings are being held as scheduled, but only by teleconference. If the public wishes to submit issues or questions to Borough Council or any board, authority or commission, it must be submitted to the Borough Manager by mail, e-mail or telephone prior to the meeting. If it is desired or necessary for any person to speak or actually participate during the meeting, arrangements can be made through the Borough Manager’s office for joining the teleconference.

APPLICATIONS

All applications relating to borough business can be found on-line at www.ebensburgpa.com under “On-line Applications”.

PLEASE MONITOR THE BOROUGH’S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS, CDC AND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WELL AS BOROUGH OPERATIONS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS CRISIS TOGETHER.  THANK YOU!

Ebensburg Main Street Partnership Member Directory & Map

The Ebensburg Main Street Partnership will be printing new member directories this year which will include our new map of Ebensburg! If you’re interested in having your business listed on the back side of the map, join the Partnership today! It’s FREE for new members and just $50.00 a year for returning members. The deadline to be included on the map is Friday, February 14th.

Join Here!

Ebensburg Historic District Receives Listing on National Register of Historic Places

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Danea Koss (814-472-8414)
October 15, 2019

EBENSBURG HISTORIC DISTRICT RECEIVES LISTING ON NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Ebensburg – Ebensburg officials are pleased to announce that their historic district nomination has been approved by the National Park Service for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of properties that are recognized for their significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and/or culture. National Register properties can include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects and they can be significant to a local community, a state, a Native American tribe, or the nation as a whole.

Ebensburg’s period of significance spans 162 years, ranging from 1799 to 1961. Its areas of significance fall into commerce and architecture. There are three distinct eras in Ebensburg’s history:

• 1799-1850 saw Ebensburg’s early settlement and its importance was established as a turnpike route, securing its position as a center of commerce and service for travelers along this major east-west route;

• 1850-1915 brought the completion of the railroad, railroad era tourism and the rise and impact of the automobile;

• 1915-1961 started with the devastating fire of 1915 and then the rebuild as an automobile oriented commerce, which changed travel and spending habits until the opening of the US 22 downtown bypass in 1961.

The district is bounded roughly by Highland Avenue, West Street, Sugar Street and Triumph Street. It includes 422 contributing buildings and sites and 161 noncontributing. Buildings that contribute to the historic district retain integrity; their form and/or architectural details reflect their construction during the 1799-1961 period of significance. Buildings whose materials have changed, but without altering the overall design, still contribute to the historic district. The noncontributing properties were either constructed after 1961, or have been altered to an extent that they no longer reflect their historic appearance.

“The historic nature of Ebensburg Borough is one of the many positive aspects of the community that helped our family decide to move here in 2002. Thanks to the hard work of Borough staff and many dedicated volunteers, we can all be proud that Ebensburg has now been nationally recognized for its historic significance. This designation should prove to be a useful tool with regard to further economic development and increased local tourism,” said Doug Tusing, Borough Council President.

Efforts to establish a national register historic district began in the late 1990’s under the direction of local resident, Dr. John “Jack” Coleman. Dr. Coleman served as Professor Emeritus at St. Francis University where he taught history for 40 years and was past president of the PA Historical Association and Cambria County Historical Society. When Dr. Coleman fell ill, the nomination process was put on hold. Borough staff and officials revived the process a few years back, with the help of interested local residents. Mr. Dave Huber, vice president of the Cambria County Historical Society, and Ms. Gina Tusing were staunch supporters who volunteered their time for months to help put together a needed inventory of properties. “We could not have achieved this distinction without the help and support from many volunteers who championed our cause and saw this process through to the end,” said Danea Koss, Community Development Director.

The National Register of Historic Places program is administered by the National Park Service. In Pennsylvania, the program is managed by the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO), which is a bureau within the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). Under Federal Law, the listing of a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what an owner may do with their property up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives Federal assistance, usually funding or licensing/permitting.

The complete nomination can be viewed at the following link, along with a property inventory, and select photographs: https://gis.penndot.gov/CRGIS/Application/ASPNET/Report/Report.aspx?R=108&T=KEYNO&I=103074

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Ebensburg Main Street Partnership Earns National Accreditation

Ebensburg’s Community Development Director Danea Koss accepts Ebensburg Main Street Partnership’s 2019 National Main Street Center accreditation certificate alongside representatives from DCED and other accredited communities. From left: Christie Yerger, DCED; Danea Koss, Ebensburg Main Street Partnership; Gordon Manker, Wilkinsburg CDC; Josh Rolon, Wilkinsburg CDC; Jeanine Henry, Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful, Larry Marshall, Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful; Mandy Book, DCED. Ebensburg was also recognized as the fifth “Best Performing Main Street Programs” behind Easton, Boyertown, Hamburg and Quakertown.

Ebensburg Main Street Partnership Receives 2021 National Main Street Accreditation

Ebensburg, PA (July 27, 2021) – The Ebensburg Main Street Partnership has once again been designated as an accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its Coordinating Program partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs in recognition of their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach®.

“Once again, we are thrilled to recognize this year’s nationally accredited Main Street America communities for their outstanding work,” says Patrice Frey, President & CEO of the National Main Street Center. “We are experiencing an exciting era for America’s cities and towns, with a growing recognition of the importance of strong local enterprise, distinctive character, engaged residents, and sense of place. These are things that Main Street America programs have been working to protect and advance for years, strengthening the economic, social, and cultural fabric of communities across the country.”

The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking programmatic progress and actively preserving historic buildings.

“We are proud to be one of only 40 accredited main street programs in Pennsylvania” said John Paul Houser, president of the Ebensburg Main Street Partnership. “It sets us apart and affirms that we are following the national standard for all main street programs.”

The Ebensburg Main Street Program represents an important and unique partnership between municipal government (the Borough of Ebensburg) and private enterprise (the Ebensburg Main Street Partnership).  Combined with interested residents from the community, the Ebensburg Main Street Partnership is committed to increasing the economic vitality of the Ebensburg Central Business District.  This is accomplished through a coordinated program of promotional activities, façade and streetscape improvements and economic restructuring efforts.

Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,000 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $65.6 billion in new public and private investment, generated 556,960 net new jobs and 126,476 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 260,000 buildings. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

 

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2020 Census

The 2020 Census is fast approaching. Your participation in the census, and a full and accurate count, is very important to your local community. First, the census is the basis for equal political representation under the Constitution. Second, State and Federal dollars are allotted based on the number of people counted in the census.

BE COUNTED! It’s easy. It’s safe, It’s important. For the first time ever, the Census Bureau will accept responses on-line, but you can still respond by phone or mail.

For more information, visit: www.2020census.gov/en.

Census Jobs

The Census Bureau will be hiring thousands of workers to complete the 2020 Census. Job seekers can apply now. The first jobs will be in August 2019 conducting address canvassing.  www.2020census.gov/jobs -or- 1-855-JOB-2020.

“Retire Your Old Glory” at the Ebensburg Municipal Office

Retire Your Old Glory is a community-based program to collect and properly retire American flags when they are no longer usable. Because borough staff are often asked how and where to properly dispose of old flags, Borough Council voted to participate in this program.

The American Legion Post 363 and Ebensburg VFW Post 4963 have generously agreed to sponsor the program by covering the initial set up fees, and Boy Scout Troop 98 has agreed to mange the program on an ongoing basis. They will periodically collect the flags, report the number of flags collected and ceremonially dispose of the flags.

Thanks to all the organizations involved in making this program possible.