Miscellaneous

Montgomery County is taking on more debt. It issued $55,000,000 worth of bonds Thursday to fund major infrastructure projects including repairs and renovations at the Norristown Courthouse as well as the parking garage and One Montgomery Plaza. The interest rate on the new debt is just under 2.4%. The total county debt currently stands at almost $450,000,000. Debt service costs the county about $39,000,000 annually.

Lansdale officials are considering a major overhaul of their electric ordinance. The borough buys power in bulk for resale to its residents and there has not been a proposal to change the ordinance this significantly in at least 30 years. One of the proposed updates would allow customers that have had their service turned off for lack of payment get it back without having to pay the reconnection charge at the same time as their back balance. Instead it would be included with their next electric bill. Other proposed changes would better define service termination procedures and allow the borough to hold the electric security deposits of renters after they vacate their apartments until their accounts are brought into good standing. Borough council will consider the electric ordinance update at its business meeting in May.

Towamencin officials are considering an update for their property maintenance code. It's based on a model that is used internationally and sets minimum standards for homeowners to follow in the upkeep of structures and yards. The code was initially adopted by the Towamencin supervisors 13-years ago and has not been amended since. The most recent version of the international maintenance code includes requiring that every house have electricity in ordered to be considered habitable. The supervisors Wednesday night authorized advertising it for adoption in either April or May. Supervisor Jim Sinz cast the sole no vote.

Montgomery County resident Mike Krancer is stepping down as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Departmrent of Environmental Protection.   He's been deeply involved with issues related to gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.   Krancer will reenter the legal profession with the Philadelphia law firm of Blank-Rome.   The 55-year-old Krancer lives in Bryn Mawr.