PORT MATILDA — Repairs on the Port Matilda Borough Building have finally begun.
According to borough Secretary Caroline Kibe, progress on the building is being made every day.
“The (meeting) room is almost completely done,” Kibe said. “They’re on the verge of removing one little piece yet and then they’ll be demoing the foundation, too.”
Repairs to the building became necessary after a Port Matilda man crashed his truck into the building on March 15, 2022. According to a state police report, Will Bracken, 32, crashed his truck into the building along South High Street shortly before 11 p.m. He was later charged with alleged driving under the influence.
“(The driver) managed to miss the guard rails and all that and ran right into the building on a meeting night,” Kibe said.
A borough meeting had just taken place, Kibe said. Four members of council, Kibe and Mayor Ida Lively were still in the building at the time of the collision finishing up administrative duties.
“Some of the council members had left and some of us were still in there when the building was hit,” Kibe said.
Since then, Port Matilda officials have been forced to work out of alternate locations.
“We were using our back office for both offices and meetings,” Kibe said.
Officials have also been using donated office space. However, for borough meetings, Kibe said they are using the Port Matilda Fire Hall.
“Our meeting room here really isn’t big enough,” she said. “Our handicapped ramp is really not accessible and needs repairs.”
Kibe said council is hopeful work on the building will be completed by July 31.
“With the demo, it’s going good,” Kibe said. “It looks like it’s on track.”
Costs to repair the building are estimated at nearly $200,000, which the council is seeking to recoup from the driver’s insurance company.
Meanwhile, Kibe said she is eager to get back inside the old building.
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” she said.
