Ephrata meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Ephrata Borough Council to weigh $220K HVAC contract, sewer payments, and parking changes

Ephrata Borough Council and its committees have a full slate of meetings this week, with agenda items ranging from a $220,180 HVAC contract at the Recreation Center to sewer payments and parking changes. No minutes have been published for the meetings held Aug. 10-18, so all items remain pending decisions.

Borough Council (Aug. 10)

The council's agenda included conditional approval for Rural City Beer Company to sell alcohol at Concerts by the Creek on Aug. 11, 2026, and several land development waivers for 237 East Fulton Street (swale, drainage, side slopes). The council also planned to award Bid #26-3 for traffic signal vehicle detection upgrades to C.M. High, Inc. for $54,500, and a contract to Frey Lutz, LLC for two HVAC RTUs at the Recreation Center for $220,180. Additionally, the council was set to authorize settlement stipulations regarding condemnation of lands owned by Melita Usner and Bradley and Susan Vater.

Borough Authority (Aug. 10)

The authority considered a payment of $5,295.00 for the WWTP No. 1 Biosolids Project (Fulton Bank Requisition No. 40, Lloyd Z. Nolt Trucking Invoice No. 14745), approval of an unbudgeted expenditure for Premier Tree Service, and requests to reduce financial security for two developments: 100 East Pine Street (partial) and Wyndale Development (final). It also reviewed an agreement for completion and bonding of improvements for Oak & Co Holdings, LLC, and a sanitary sewer capacity request for 388 Stevens Road.

Committee Meetings (Aug. 17)

Three council committees met on Aug. 17:

• **Public Safety Committee** discussed reports from the fire company, ambulance, EMC, and police, plus the Pioneer Reserve engine replacement and a fire tax discussion. No action items were listed.
• **Personnel Committee** took action on an IBEW personnel separation agreement and discussed a personnel update.
• **Municipal Enterprises Committee** reviewed the second quarter budget, a right-of-way matter on N Maple St, and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). All items were for discussion only.

Shade Tree Commission (Aug. 18)

The commission discussed replacing a removed tree on Main St with a November planting target, updating the Tree Bank sign project, planting trees with the Ephrata Public Library, and feedback on a tree inventory app.

Coming up

Several meetings are scheduled for Aug. 24:

• **Highway Committee** will discuss a request to remove the 2-hour parking restriction on South Church Street and broader Central Business District parking. No action items.
• **Development Activities Committee** will consider waiving building permit fees for EPD Officer Evan Frees, storage space for the Friends of the Ephrata Police Foundation, use of the Haller Property/House by Scouting America, a subdivision agreement for 237 East Fulton Street, and draft ordinances on nuisance vehicles and zoning for data centers and battery storage.
• **Budget and Finance Committee** will discuss borough solicitor invoices, the checks and ACH register, and old business regarding Angel Rodriguez at 40 N. Church Street. No action items.

All upcoming meetings are open to the public; check the borough's official calendar for times and locations.

Ephrata Roundup: Shade Tree Commission Plans Main Street Replacement, Council Committees Packed with Budget and Development Items

Shade Tree Commission acts on Main Street, library plantings

The only body with published minutes this period, the Shade Tree Commission, met July 21 and discussed removing a framed box from a Main Street tree and planning a replacement planting for November. The commission also began planning a 2027 collaboration with the Ephrata Public Library to plant three trees, estimated at $200 each. The Tree Bank sign construction update was tabled, and a replacement Tree City USA Flag was delivered to Mainspring.

Borough Council committees set full agendas — minutes not yet published

Several Borough Council committees met July 20 and July 27, but minutes have not yet been published. The items below reflect what was on each agenda; outcomes are not yet confirmed by official minutes.

Public Safety Committee (July 20): The agenda included an appointment to the Civil Service Commission, reports from the fire company, Ephrata Area Ambulance, the Emergency Management Council, and the police department, discussion of the fire tax issue, and review of the 2nd Quarter Budget Report. An informational item on National Night Out was also listed.

Planning Commission (July 21): The commission was scheduled to consider a lot add-on and land development plan for 237 E. Fulton Street.

Community Services Committee (July 27): Scheduled votes included a request by Ephrata Bible Chapel to use Whistle Plaza for a Live Nativity and a request to place flags at Winters Memorial. The 2nd Quarter 2026 Budget Review was listed for discussion. The next meeting is scheduled for August 24, 2026.

Highway Committee (July 27): The committee was set to consider awarding Bid #26-3 for Traffic Signal Vehicle Detection Upgrades. Other agenda items included a UGI Gas Main Extension and Gas Service at 1020 Pleasant View Road, a road closure request with detour at 1369 West Main Street, discussion of the Church Avenue and West Chestnut Street intersection, central business district parking, and the 2nd Quarter budget review.

Budget and Finance Committee (July 27): The agenda listed discussion of a $2 million RACP grant awarded to the borough for the Electric Facility and the 2nd Quarter 2026 budget review. Action items included resolutions on board and commission appointments, appointment of Treasurer, updating authorized signers for E NB Banking, and designating authorized persons for the Morgan Stanley retirement account.

Development Activities Committee (July 27): Scheduled action items included a final land development plan and lot add-on for 237 East Fulton Street, a partial reduction of financial security for 100 East Pine Street, and a financial security release agreement for 839 South State Street. Discussion items included a Zoning Hearing Board decision on a short-term rental special exception at 98 Highland Avenue and a request to serve alcohol at Concerts by the Creek on August 11, 2026.

Coming up

Borough Council — Monday, August 3, 2026: The council will review committee recommendations on a road closure and detour request for 1365 West Main Street for utility installations serving a 4-unit apartment building, the lot add-on and final land development plan for 237 East Fulton Street, HVAC RTU replacements for the Ephrata Recreation Center, Resolution 2026-30 regarding disposition of Mossberg 590A1 Shotguns and Ammunition, and a request to serve alcohol for the Concerts by the Creek event on August 11, 2026.

Ephrata Council Agendas Target $1.36M Fire Apparatus Note, Zoning Changes, Street Projects

Ephrata Borough Council packed multiple July agendas with major financial and land-use items, including a proposed $1,362,000 general obligation note for new fire apparatus and more than $520,000 in street improvement contracts. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, so final outcomes cannot be confirmed from the available record.

Fire Apparatus Note and Street Improvements

The July 13 Borough Council agenda included Ordinance No. 1608, which would authorize issuing a General Obligation Note of up to $1,362,000 for a new fire apparatus. The same agenda listed Bid #26-2 for 2026 Street Improvements, with a recommended award to H&K Group, Inc. for $403,835.76, and a separate Church Avenue Paving Improvements bid awarded to H&K Group, Inc. for $118,184.12.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed whether council voted to approve these items.

Zoning Ordinance Amendments

Council held a public hearing on July 13 to discuss proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance. The changes would permit medical marijuana dispensaries, smoke shops, and tobacco stores in the HCD, LIC, and GIC districts. Short-term rentals would be permitted in the HCD, CBD, LIC, and GIC districts, with a special exception required in the NCD and NCD2 districts.

The July 13 agenda also included Ordinance No. 1603, which would amend the tables of uses for those same categories.

Alcohol Sales at Concerts by the Creek

The July 6 agenda included a conditional approval for Cartel Brewing & Blending to sell alcohol at the Concerts by the Creek event in Grater Park, pending a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board special occasion permit and insurance.

That agenda also listed an agreement with Crossing Guard Services, LLC to outsource crossing guard services, a resolution to adopt the Lancaster County 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan, and a temporary one-way travel designation on Hunter Alley from West Fulton Street to West Franklin Street for September 21–27, 2026.

Borough Authority and Zoning Hearing Board

The Borough Authority met July 13 to review WWTP No. 1 Biosolids Project payments, including Fulton Bank Requisition No. 39 for $27,402.18. The agenda also listed a request from Valley View Capital, LLC to reduce financial security, a memorandum of understanding with Lincoln Land Group, Inc., a sanitary sewer design for 237 East Fulton Street, and discussion of the Hackman Living Trust.

The Zoning Hearing Board scheduled a July 15 public hearing on a special exception request for a short-term rental at 98 Highland Avenue, located in the Residential Low Density Zoning District. The applicants are property owners Elizabeth and Stephen Ulkowski.

Coming Up

• **July 20 — Borough Council Public Safety Committee:** Agenda includes an appointment to the Civil Service Commission, reports from the fire company, Ephrata Area Ambulance, and the police department, discussion of the fire tax issue, and review of the 2nd Quarter Budget Report.
• **July 21 — Planning Commission:** Will consider a lot add-on and land development plan for 237 E. Fulton Street.