Ashland Borough leaders brought some of the community’s most pressing concerns directly to state Sen. Dave Argall and state Rep. Tim Twardzik during a special public meeting on , focused on state funding and assistance.
The meeting was held before the borough council’s workshop as council prepared for its regular monthly meeting on .
Ashland Mayor Lorenda Kutz helped arrange the session to establish a direct dialogue between borough officials, residents and the state lawmakers. Discussions covered Center Street safety, heavy truck traffic, aging water infrastructure, downtown revitalization, blight, a collapsing retaining wall and other challenges affecting the borough.
Kutz took office in January 2026 and has since advocated for the borough while pursuing grant funding.
Center Street Safety and Truck Traffic
One of the most extensive discussions concerned Center Street, which carries state Routes 61 and 54 through Ashland.
The highway is a major transportation corridor, but it also serves as the borough’s downtown and passes homes, senior housing, emergency service facilities and 11 school bus stops.
Kutz presented results from a community survey showing that 74% of respondents identified speeding as a concern, 73.5% cited heavy truck traffic and more than 65% reported concerns about loud or frequent engine braking.
“We’re not trying to stop trucks or commerce,” Kutz said. “We’re looking for a better balance between moving truck traffic through Ashland and allowing Center Street to function safely as our downtown and as a place where people live.”
Borough officials and residents have been pushing for the speed limit to be reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph.
Resident Michael Kane said he has advocated for the change for two years and questioned what effect the constant movement of heavy trucks is having beneath the roadway.
“Fixing the roads is wonderful, but our infrastructure underneath that road is in bad shape,” Kane said.
Kane pointed to repeated water-main breaks and questioned whether the weight and vibration of truck traffic are adding pressure to the borough’s aging underground infrastructure.
Kutz also raised concerns about pedestrians and the repeated noise created by engine braking.
“I worry about the children on the streets,” Kutz said, noting the number of bus stops along the corridor. She said the sound of Jake brakes reverberates through buildings and causes homes along the roadway to vibrate.
Borough officials said a formal Road Safety Audit is scheduled for . The review is expected to examine traffic conditions, speeding, pedestrian safety and other concerns along the state highway.
Building Ashland as a Destination
Kutz also presented a vision for using Ashland’s history to support downtown revitalization and future economic development.
“I’d like to see Ashland continue developing as a heritage tourism community while becoming safer, more attractive and more supportive of our residents, businesses and future investment,” Kutz said.
“Ultimately, I’d like to see Ashland build on its history and its place in the heart of the Coal Region, becoming a place people can come to, not simply a place that they drive through.”
Opportunities discussed included building upon the Pioneer Tunnel, historical markers, the Coal Region Christmas Train and the annual Coal Region Car Show.
Argall called the Pioneer Tunnel “a gem” and encouraged the borough to take greater advantage of the tourism opportunities it already has.
Borough officials said Ashland has also been accepted into the Justin R. Lehman Community Capacity-Building Pre-Planning Assistance Program. The WalkWorks initiative provides technical assistance to communities preparing to pursue funding for active transportation plans involving walking, biking, wheelchair use and access to public transportation.
Volunteer Organization Recommended
The lawmakers recommended creating a nonprofit volunteer organization to lead local revitalization efforts and build community support.
“What works most successfully is having residents buy into it,” Senator Argall said.
Downtown Shenandoah Inc. was cited as a possible model for Ashland. The organization uses volunteers and local fundraising to support downtown projects and pursue outside funding.
A similar 501(c)(3) organization in Ashland could raise money, provide matching funds required by some grant programs and help prepare applications for future Main Street and revitalization funding.
Water System Needs Discussed
The lawmakers also delivered what they described as positive news for Ashland’s water system.
“One bit of good news, Ashland will be getting $275,000 for water meter replacements,” Argall said. “That’s through the gaming grants.”
Borough leaders said replacing the meters will help but emphasized that Ashland faces much larger water infrastructure needs.
“We need help big time,” Council Member Jerome Schmoltze said.
The lawmakers encouraged Ashland to consider the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Strategic Management Planning Program, or STMP, which was formerly known as the Early Intervention Program.
The program provides matching funding to help municipalities hire consultants to review their finances, operations and long-term needs.
“They will come in and they will work with you, look at everything and make recommendations on ways that maybe you can stay more financially solvent,” Argall said.
Consultants can also help municipalities identify and apply for funding related to infrastructure, blight and other municipal priorities.
Retaining Wall, Blight and Skill Games
Borough leaders also raised concerns about a deteriorating retaining wall at Higher Ups Park that has become a potential public hazard.
“The wall is collapsing,” one borough official said, adding that the area has been taped off to prevent people from approaching or parking near it.
Because of the project’s potential cost and complexity, the lawmakers suggested contacting federal congressional representatives or exploring whether assistance may be available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The borough also reported losing approximately $20,000 in amusement tax revenue following legal developments involving skill game machines.
“It directly hit the borough for $20,000,” Council President Patrick Cooney said. “We had an amusement tax on them. We lost that.”
Blighted properties were another focus of the discussion. One lawmaker said he and the other legislator had helped bring an additional $750,000 to Schuylkill County for demolition and rehabilitation projects.
The funding could provide another avenue for communities seeking to acquire, rehabilitate or demolish deteriorated properties.
ATV Tourism Considered
The meeting also included preliminary discussion about whether opening certain roads to ATV traffic could bring visitors and additional business to Ashland.
Participants discussed both the possible economic benefits and concerns involving traffic, safety and enforcement. Efforts undertaken in Minersville were referenced as one model Ashland could examine.
The session gave borough leaders an opportunity to present Ashland’s needs directly to its state representatives while identifying programs, funding sources and organizational steps that could help move future projects forward.