A Great Place to Live, Work and Play

The Borough of Orwigsburg is small town America. One of our major strengths as a community is our small-town charm in a fast-paced environment. With only 3106 residents, many families have known each other for generations. The local economy is strong, and local crime is low. Infrastructure is maintained and operational with a proximity of a roads network to PA Route 61, Interstate 78 and Interstate 81. 

Orwigsburg is a great Pennsylvania community. It has a strong and dedicated workforce, the residents are caring and supportive of each other, and it seems that even Father Time moves at a more relaxed pace.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

For upcoming Christmas activities and events check our 'Events' & 'Community' pages under the 'Play' tab!

On behalf of myself, Borough Council, police and our borough team, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Eid-al-Fitr or if you do not celebrate one of the above Happy Holidays.

This season often brings family and friends together for food, fellowship and festivities.  We are providing the following safety tips to help ensure your holidays are enjoyable.

HAND HYGIENE 

Bacteria and viruses are always trying to get into our body and make us sick. An easy way that germs get into our body is through openings, such as our eyes, nose, mouth and cuts. One of the best ways to prevent germs from entering our body is by keeping our hands clean.

Germs can transfer to our hands when we touch items such as tools, luggage, door handles and cell phones. If we don’t wash our hands often, those germs can then transfer to the food we touch or go directly into our body if we touch our lips or an open wound.

You should clean your hands:

• Before, during and after preparing food

• Before and after eating food

• Before and after caring for someone who is sick

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the restroom

• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

• After touching animals, animal food or treats, animal cages or animal feces

• After touching garbage

 • If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy

Your hands can be cleaned by using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Soap and water is the recommended way to clean hands in all scenarios, if available. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is a good second option.

STAYING CHILL BEHIND THE WHEEL THIS WINTER

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), over 70% of the nation's roads exist in regions that receive more than five inches of annual snowfall.

About a quarter of weather-related vehicle crashes happen on snowy, slushy or ice pavement, with these wrecks killing more than 1,300 and injuring more than 116,800 people each year.

While the best course of action, when it is snowing, is to stay home, for those who must go out into the cold, AAA recommends the following:

• Drive slowly and adjust your speed to account for lower traction.

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly.

• Increase your following distance to 5-6 seconds to allow yourself more time to stop if needed.

• Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before attempting to drive up a hill. Do not stop on the hill but remember that applying too much gas as you climb can cause your tires to spin.

If Mother Nature brings us snow, please be assured that our team has our plow trucks ready with road salt on hand to keep our roadways clear.

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY 

It's the most wonderful time of the year - but it can also be the riskiest time if important holiday fire safety measures aren't followed to protect people and property.

December is one of the leading months for home fires due to an increased use of flammable decorations, candles, and heating sources like space heaters or fireplaces, according to the National Fire Protection Agency.

Don't let your holiday celebrations be ruined by a fire.

Candle Fire Safety - There's nothing like the warm glow of candlelight during the holiday season. In fact, approximately 35% of candle sales occur during this time of year, the National Candle Association reports. However, these festive sources of cheer can also be sources of disaster if proper candle safety isn't followed. The NFPA notes that while 33% of home decoration fires throughout the year are started by candles, in the month of December the number of candles causing such fires jumps to 46%. The most immediate solution to prevent candle fires is to use flameless candles. However, it may not be possible to forego typical candles for important traditions such as lighting the menorah during Hanukkah.

Here are some candle safety tips to keep people and property safe:

• If you exit the room, extinguish the flame. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

• Place candles at least 12 inches away from other highly combustible items, such as decorations, drapes, and furniture.

• Candleholders should be sturdy and difficult to tip over, and the surfaces on which they are placed should be clear of clutter.

• Children should never be left alone in a room with lit candles or any open flame. Be sure to place burning candles out of reach of kids or pets.

• Don't light or burn candles if oxygen cylinders are used in the home.

Holiday Lights & Decorations Dos and Don'ts - Clark W. Griswold wanted to provide his family with a stunning Christmas light display in the holiday classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" - but he made many dangerous errors in the process.

These holiday decorating safety tips will help you avoid making the same mistakes Clark did:

• Ensure decorations are not hanging near a heat source or open flame.

• Do not overcrowd outlets by attaching too many light strings together.

• Check Christmas lights for damaged or exposed wiring and missing or broken bulbs and replace or discard as needed.

• Lights should be used based on the manufacturer's instructions; inside lights should not be used outside and vice versa.

• Check the condition of extension cords and power strips, and plug these only into wall sockets, away from walking areas, and above rugs/carpeting.

• DO NOT DAISY-CHAIN POWER STRIPS (plugging one power strip into another).

• Use clips or hooks instead of nails or staples when hanging lights to avoid damaging them.

• Always turn off holiday light decorations when closing your business for the day or leaving your home.

We hope you will keep these safety tips in mind as you celebrate the season.

Wishing you and your family the most joyous and safe holiday season.

Bill Reppy, Borough Manager

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Borough Council of the Borough of Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, will receive public comment and consider for adoption at a meeting duly called and held within not less than seven (7) days nor more than sixty (60) days from the last date of the advertisement of this Notice, at Orwigsburg Borough Hall, 209 North Warren Street, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania: ORDINANCE NO. 464: AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AT 12.5 MILLS ON EACH DOLLAR OF ASSESSED REAL PROPERTY VALUATION; PROVIDING REPEALERS, SEVERABILITY AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE. The title of the Ordinance provides a brief summary of the Ordinance in reasonable detail. The amount of revenue estimated to be derived from the tax is $946,285.00. A copy of the full text of the proposed Ordinance is available for public inspection during regular Borough business hours at Orwigsburg Borough Hall, 333 South Liberty Street, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Borough Council of Orwigsburg Borough at a meeting of Borough Council to be held not less than seven (7) days nor more than sixty (60) days from the date of second publication of this Notice, will consider for enactment an Ordinance, the caption and summary of which is as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF ORWIGSBURG, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA RELATING TO DUMPSTERS, TEMPORARY DUMPSTERS AND PORTABLE STORAGE DEVICES IN A PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY WITHIN THE BOROUGH; ESTABLISHING DEFINITIONS; ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES RELATING TO ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR DUMPSTERS, TEMPORARY DUMPSTERS, AND PORTABLE STORAGE DEVICES; ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS FOR DUMPSTERS, TEMPORARY DUMPSTERS, AND PORTABLE STORAGE DEVICES; ESTABLSISHING FEES; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALERS, SEVERABILITY AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
A complete copy of the proposed Ordinance may be examined by any citizen of Orwigsburg Borough at Orwigsburg Borough Hall, 333 South Liberty Street, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, on any business day during Borough business hours.

On December 14th members of Orwigsburg Cub Scout Pack 624, Girl Scout Troop 3272, and Trail Life Troop 2301 will be honoring the deceased veterans of the Orwigsburg area by participating in a nationwide day of remembrance with "Wreaths Across America". Their goal is to receive 392 sponsorships so that a wreath can be placed on the grave of each veteran in the cemeteries of St. John’s, St. Paul’s, Kimmel’s, and Salem Church. They request the community's support in this effort by sponsoring wreaths.

Please visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/pa0844 to donate. For every two wreaths sponsored, a third one will be provided free.

DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley on behalf of Governor Josh Shapiro has issued a Drought Warning for Schuylkill and Berks Counties. In a drought warning, we should be seeking to reduce water use by about 10-15% through voluntary conservation measures. See below for water conservation tips.

Orwigsburg Borough Council passed Ordinance 462 at their June meeting. This ordinance addressed the speed limit within the borough, lowering it to 25 MPH. New speed limit signs, signifying the reduced speed limit, are now in place throughout the borough. For the safety of all of citizens and guest please follow the posted speed limit signs.

Water Conservation Tips:

Please use water wisely and reduce your water usage by 10 to 15%

- Car Wash - Avoid washing your car at home is a great way to save water. If your car needs a bath, going to our car wash will accomplish both - save water and a clean car. Car washes use less water than a "driveway" wash

- Run the Dishwasher and washing machine less often

- Water your garden in the cooler evening or morning hours

- Water your lawn only if necessary

- Check for and repair household leaks

- Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall

Learn more at www.dep.pa.gov/drought or https://www.epa.gov/watersense/start-saving 

Sanitary Sewer: Things you always wanted to know but never asked.

We all have questions about our sewer system, but never ask. We are hoping to share some helpful facts about one of our most important resources.

A sanitary sewer building lateral is the extension from the building sewer outside the inner face of the building wall and extending to the public sewer or other place of disposal. The building lateral belongs to the owner of the property, making it the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain. When a home is constructed, the builders must connect the building lateral to the sewer main which is known as “tapping”. The process of tapping also has an associated fee which is meant to pay for and secure a portion or share of the sewage and/or water capacity needed in the collection, conveyance, and treatment facilities. It is considered a “buy in” to the sanitary sewer system and payment for facility costs not funded by user rates.

The Borough receives several calls annually about sewage back-ups into property owner’s homes. The most common reason for these back-ups can be traced to tree-roots. Roots of plants, shrubs, etc. will seek out a water source, particularly in dry weather, and in many cases will intrude into the building lateral. Significant tree root intrusions can cause sewer back-ups on your property as well as blockages in the Borough’s sewer mains. The Borough maintains these sewer mains, but the building laterals are the homeowner’s responsibility. It is a common misconception that the property owner’s responsibility ends at the house/building trap (a device fitting normally found up to 5 feet outside the inner face of the building wall that prevents circulation of air and/or noxious gases from the building sewer to the building drain). However, this is not the case as the homeowner’s responsibility is on both sides of the trap and extending out to the property line.

Many homes in the Borough have building laterals made of tera-cotta (or vitrified clay) pipes. Tera-cotta was a very common industry standard pipe component used during the time of installation for the Borough’s sanitary sewer system. These pipes, by their very nature, have joints that over time can allow easy access for roots to enter and grow into the pipe. Once the roots enter and become established the “root-balls” grow as more and more water and nutrients are absorbed. Almost anything flushed down a toilet, or disposed of down a sink, can get hung up leading to a clog that could force sewage back into the home.

To prevent these potential clogs from happening there are several items that should never be disposed of down a sink or toilet including tissues, paper towels, sanitary napkins and tampons, baby wipes, personal hygiene wipes, etc. In addition, never pour oil or grease down the sink. While it may go down the drain as a liquid, this grease will thicken and harden as soon as it encounters the cold pipes underground This hardened grease will adhere to the inner walls of your building lateral causing a restriction in flow which could also lead to sewer back-ups.

There are times when the Borough discovers large quantities of grease in the sewer main. This build-up can cause numerous issues within the Borough’s sewage collection system. To help combat this issue, commercial establishments in the Borough are required to install and maintain grease traps. Residents are also asked to do their part to prevent blockages and encouraged not to pour oils and greases down the drain.

Tori Morgan, LO 

Director of Funding, Regulatory Relations & Compliance Entech Engineering

2025 Budgets

2025-01 General Fund Budget Draft.pdf

2025-03 Fire Fund Budget Draft.pdf

2025-04 Recreation Fund Budget Draft.pdf

2025-06 Water Fund Budget Draft.pdf

2025-08 Sewer Fund Budget Draft.pdf

2025-09 Sanitation Fund Budget Draft.pdf

Trash & Recycling Issues

The hauler has changed to Anthracite Waste Management.

The days for pick-up have remained the same except a small portion of Market Street.