$300,000 In Taxes Forgiven

Antique Show Generates Over $23,000 For Hospital

By JON FOX jfox@leader.net
 Wednesday, December 14, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - Mayor Tom Leighton hopes to get the go-ahead from city
council tomorrow to select a contractor to design what he hopes is a new Coal
Street Park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You're not going to recognize the park," Leighton said after a Tuesday
night council work session. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The city began seeking proposals from firms on Nov. 30 and has received 10
bids, but Leighton has been tight-lipped about any project details, including
how much it could cost or who or where the money is coming from. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The project could include more than doubling the existing ramshackle
Ice-A-Rama facility as well as an overhaul of the long-neglected park. The ice
skating facility has been closed for more than five years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton announced plans for a redesign of the park during his summer's "I
believe" address, suggesting the ice skating rink would be open by late summer
or early fall with the help of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
organization. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That timeline later went out the window, but Leighton is still bullish on
the project. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Penguins, he said, "want to be a part of it." A revamped facility could
be used as a Penguins practice facility. The team currently practices at the
Ice Box in Jenkins Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton said the city has gotten a lot of interest in the project but
avoided any specific statements about scope. Nevertheless, he expressed
optimism, saying the project, while not as certain as "death and taxes," will
happen. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It just depends on what scale," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But he wants to go big, or at least start with big plans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The engineers and architects, he said, "will draw us the Mercedes-Benz and
we'll chip away at it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In other business at the work session: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Leighton said many of the city's road maintenance trucks have been more
frequently sidelined by mechanical problems. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're investigating when we can get some newer trucks," he told council. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Councilwoman Kathy Kane expressed concerns that icy roads could prevent
firetrucks from reaching the Heights section of the city, where she lives. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Recalling Friday's icy conditions she said "you would never get up the
hill." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It may never happen but there you go, in a matter of an hour you may have
a situation with a fire," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Councilman Bill Barrett expressed his disbelief that some city residents
had still not removed snow from sidewalks in front of their homes following
last week's storm. He suggested more stringent enforcement of an ordinance
calling for removal may be necessary. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Council met in executive session before the meeting to discuss issues
regarding the possible sale of real estate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Looks To Select Coal Street Designer/ Mayor Tom Leighton Promises Many Improvements And A Whole New Look For The Park.