Joseph Bundra, vice president of the Ironton Rail Trail Oversight Commission, gave an annual report on the IRT during Coplay Borough Council’s meeting Feb. 12.

The borough, along with Whitehall and North Whitehall townships, provides funding for maintenance and improvements on the trail.

The rail trail is actively used. Pedestrian counters were installed at the trail head at Portland Street in North Whitehall and the Chestnut Street trail head in late 2017. Cyclist counters were added in May 2018.

From the data available, nearly 193,000 walkers and cyclists have used the trail. The number should increase to nearly 250,000 in 2019 when a full year of cyclist data is available.

Trail head paving improvements came in at nearly $23,000.

The plans for 2019 include several Eagle Scout projects that will add picnic tables along the trail. Projects also include new windows at the caboose, repairing cracks and tree root issues, extending the parking lot at the Whitehall trail head and adding a sesquicentennial marker at Saylor Kilns.

Bundra extended his thanks for the contributions from Councilmen David Royer and Carl Luckenbach. The two councilmen are the backbone of the trail crew. Bundra is actively seeking volunteers, particularly from the high school, to help with the maintenance programs.

At the meeting, Councilwoman Janet Eisenhauer discussed preparations of the borough’s annual report for residents. Along with the report will be a request for updated information. The response is voluntary but will give the borough data on households.

Mayor Dean Molitoris noted he is receiving emails regarding preliminary work for the 2020 census. Local responses will aid local and federal efforts.

The borough hired Roy Bigley Jr. as a senior laborer and Tiffany Benson as assistant secretary. There is an opening for sanitation driver and laborer, and the borough is actively seeking applicants.

In other news, council acted on a recommendation from Paul Boyle, public works director, and purchased a skid steer with a trailer from the COSTARS list, Pennsylvania’s cooperative purchasing program administered by the department of general services.

Council approved establishing a municipal complex committee to evaluate how to effectively use the Bridge Street property.

An additional commercial parking space was approved for Egypt Star Bakery.

Council approved a plan, presented at the workshop session, where Coplay would join forces with other municipalities to do initial selection of police officer candidates. Candidates who pass the physical agility tests and preliminary written tests can be considered for positions on the force.

The borough’s civil service commission still prepares a list of suitable candidates that meet the borough’s criteria for employment. Council and the police chief make the final selection of a candidate.