06/09/2026
A Message to the Residents and Taxpayers of Shenandoah Borough The Borough's cooperation with the Commonwealth to account for CDBG funds from 2010 to 2014 is imperative and non-negotiable. Nevertheless, this situation raises a critical question that every taxpayer in Shenandoah deserves an answer to: why is the Borough proceeding with a 1.4 million-dollar garage and office building project despite the financial uncertainty that persists? If documentation cannot be located and the Borough is required to repay nearly $500,000 in federal grant funds, the burden will fall on the taxpayers who had no involvement in the decisions made over a decade ago. This would be profoundly unfair, especially considering that public funds are being allocated towards a new building that many believe is not urgently needed. The existing borough building is structurally sound, and claims of rat infestation and lack of running water for workers have not been substantiated. While workplace comfort is important, these concerns do not warrant a 1.4 million-dollar construction project, especially when the borough office already has available restrooms and workers can return home during breaks. It is deeply concerning to learn about the financial mismanagement in our borough. Many residents are unaware of the full picture and have voted in good faith for officials who promised transparency and accountability. Instead, we are met with broken promises and half-truths, which have become a pattern. The parks are a prime example of this mismanagement. Equipment for children was promised, yet the parks remain empty and without swings or other essential facilities. Meanwhile, the Borough can allocate funds for a $1.4 million building project but cannot manage to install playground equipment that was already committed to our families. This raises serious questions about our priorities. Furthermore, our sewage plant is in deplorable condition, posing a significant health risk that has been repeatedly raised and ignored. The health and safety of our residents must take precedence over any building project. In January 2026, the Borough Manager announced a doubling of the annual fee for skill machines operating within borough businesses, with the $250 portion of the increase dedicated to recreational use, including park maintenance and playground equipment. The borrow manager appeared on wnep newswatch 16 stating that the fee increase would be used for the upkeep of recreational parks and the installation of swings and this fee would be in effect starting February 1st. 2026 However, despite this fee being in effect for months, the parks remain empty, and the promised equipment has not been installed. It's supposed to be the head on this building project that has gone up in 3 weeks. The residents deserve a full accounting of every dollar collected under this fee increase and a clear explanation for the discrepancy. The land on which the new project is being constructed was donated to the community for recreational use only, with a deed restriction that appears to be being disregarded. If the Borough cannot honor the terms of the donation, the land should be returned to the original donors, as required by law. The youth football and cheerleading organizations use Bicentennial Field Park for practice, The baseball/ softball season is upon us there's no more area for soccer. There is no basketball courts. There is no Park equipment only for the smaller children.but that space has now been consumed by the new garage and office structure. The message this sends to our families is clear: our children are not a priority. The Borough's justification for the new project, citing rat infestation, is undermined by the existence of the old borough garage nearby. It seems the real reason for the project was not the stated concern but rather a pretext for a project the community did not consent to.
Katie Catizone has shown remarkable courage in filing a lawsuit against the Borough to halt this project, which violates the deed and prioritizes a building over the health, safety, and future of our children. We stand in support of those willing to speak out against this mismanagement. We deserve elected officials who are truthful and transparent, who mean what they say and follow through on their commitments and also follow the laws like everyone else is required to do. This is not too much to ask; it is the minimum we expect.
