A former Tyrone Borough councilman has decided he would like to sit on the municipality’s governing body again.
Morrison Street resident Edward L. Isenberg served on council from 1980 to 1989, according to a statement released to The Daily Herald about his candidacy in the May 17 primary.
“I want the flood control project completed,” stated Isenberg. “I know Tyroners voted not to finish the flood control project, but I think the problem must be addressed.
“That referendum took place because council failed to fully inform the people,” said Isenberg. “Voters were afraid they’d have to bear the costs. They weren’t informed that federal, state and county money was going to do the job.
“Property owners were seeing reservoir, water treatment and sewer plant projects coming at them and they feared completing flood control meant a tax hike,” said Isenberg.
He also mentioned the Tyrone Watershed as another concern which led to his decision to run for council again.
Isenberg said, “When I was on council from 1980 to 1989, ARCO offered the borough a $1 million bond if we would allow them to drill for the natural gas up there.
“They offered to drill a well and cap it, guaranteeing that they would not destroy the watershed environment. Council decided not to do so. I was a little leery of it myself since the reservoir work was underway and was afraid the work would ruin the water.
“Now, since we have the water treatment plant, drilling up there doesn’t worry me,” said Isenberg. “What does worry me, however is if one day Tyrone should turn the watershed over to an operating water authority.
“Anything and everything on that watershed would belong to the water authority,” said Isenberg. “Anything and everything on that watershed would belong to that company and Tyrone Borough would lose all that revenue from whatever resources are there; timber, natural gas, water.
“I remember too well when council sold off timber up there,” continued Isenberg. “Instead of putting that money into the authority they put it into the general fund and it is long gone.
“Any profits from any resources in the watershed should go to paying off the water debts we have and for any new lines that have to be put into the Tyrone infrastructure in the future, like those under Washington Avenue which PennDOT insists must be in place before resurfacing begins,” concluded Isenberg.
The former councilman is a 1960 graduate of Tyrone Area High School and served in the Marines for several years before returning to Tyrone.
Isenberg said he “made history” in 1984, after he left council to run for mayor. He lost the election, but when Councilman Bob Dawson died in office, he applied to be appointed to the seat. The sitting council at the time, turned down his appointment, according to Isenberg. He said he then took his case to Blair County Court. Isenberg explained the court said he was the most knowledgeable of the candidates and became the only-court-appointed councilman in Tyrone’s history.
Isenberg is also a long-time employee of Gardners Candies.
