Durbin town council reported good news in regards to the town electric bill at the regular meeting December 13. Councilmember Mike Vance said the town has a credit of more than $5,000 due to overpayment.

The town has 51 street lights through Allegheny Power and was paying an estimated $10 a month per light. Vance noticed a discrepancy when a town resident said he could pay less for a street light if it was added to his regular power bill.

Vance contacted Allegheny Power and found the town was converted to high pressure sodium lights in 2008, which should have lowered the payment to $7 a month. With the overpayment, the town will have a credit that will pay for the lights for the next 36 months.

Vance added that one street light is blocked by a tree that is on both town and private property. Allegheny Power will remove the tree for free if the property owner will approve the removal. Council will contact the property owner before removing the tree.

In updates:

ﾕ Vance said a petition concerning the loss of the town clinic is circulating in town. He said he researched the issue and said a Certificate of Need to have a clinic in Durbin was presented in Charleston prior to the opening of the clinic in 1999. He said Durbin has a large need for a clinic and he encourages residents to sign the petition in hopes the clinic owner, Tri-County Health Clinic, will reconsider closing the Durbin branch.

ﾕ Vance suggested using a piece of land on First Avenue as a small town park. He said it is large enough to have a bench and a little park. Council agreed and asked Vance to bring more information about the cost of transforming the land into a park to the next meeting.

ﾕ Council approved a motion to work on the storm drains and ditches in town. Several ditches are clogged and have caused water to run into residentsﾒ yards and driveways. The town is applying for a grant to assist in the costs of digging new ditches.

ﾕ Mayor Donald Peck mentioned problems with residents pouring grease into the sewer line. He said the town has had to pump the sewer lines due to clogs caused by the grease, and a pump and the lagoon ﾓblew upﾔ from the clog.

ﾕ The town will provide a total of $150 to the first, second and third place winners of the town Christmas lighting contest, which was held December 18. Winners were not available at press time.