MILL HALL — Mill Hall Borough Council elected to change the amount it donates to the Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company as it continues to wait for its firefighters to gain proper certifications — an ongoing discussion that’s been held between the borough and fire company for years.

Council enacted a training ordinance in June 2022, the requirements of which were incorporated into the standard operating guidelines (SOGs) of the fire company that July.

Members of the fire company were given a year to complete the required training, and faced the threat of decertification otherwise.

Fire company members said at a previous meeting held in 2023 the year window they were given to complete the training was not long enough.

Now, in 2025, two of the current chiefs of the fire company have still not completed the necessary training.

“We’re over two years. No training has been done. It’s a slap in our face. We always talk about what we can do — the only way we’re going to make a statement to them is not giving the full amount,” said Council member Derek Caris.

“It’s not just our ordinance — they adopted that themselves at the fire hall. They’re not fulfilling their own obligation to their own fire company,” said Council member Rick Hetzel.

A unanimous roll call vote was held, with council agreeing to donate $3,000 now, and then trickle in the remaining amount as training takes place.

Tony Walker abstained from voting due to his connection with the fire company.

“If they go and get training we can give them (the rest),” said Caris.

Council will once again be partnering with the Clinton County Solid Waste Authority on their residential tire collection event this May.

On May 8 collection will be held at the borough building from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Friday, May 9, from 7-11 a.m.

The Clinton County Solid Waste Authority will also hold tire collection on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, at the recycling center in McElhattan.

The limit is 12 tires per resident living in the borough. This event is not open to tire dealers, service station operators, repair garages, tire sales outlets or similar facilities. The collection will include rims and you must sign in to drop off.

In other news:

— Council has approved the purchase of Jersey barriers and transportation of the barriers for Ben Avenue.

— Kevin Hoy, a borough employee, will be removed from probationary status to full-time status with a $1 per hour increase in pay.

— Council has moved to waive pavilion rental fees for the Mill Hall Kiwanis’ chicken bbq on April 5, July 19 and Sept. 27.

— Council has approved a new cell phone policy regarding employee phones.

— Mayor Tom Bossert has announced he will not be seeking re-election in this upcoming election cycle.