Public Works
Public Works – Streets
On May 19, 1911, Council authorized the first paved street in town, by awarding the Pitt Construction Co. a bid to pave Grand Avenue. At the same time residents of Pittsburgh Street decided to pave their street. As the town grew, the new borough council had several problems such as sidewalks and grading streets with horse-drawn equipment. As tax revenue and technology grew, Mars established a complete layout of paved streets in the roughly 1 square mile borough. This passage from a history of Mars written by Mayor Lester Kennedy in 1973 STREET LIGHTS If you notice a street light bulb needs replaced, please contact Penn Power directly at 1-800-720-3600 as bulbs tend to get replaced significantly faster when a resident makes a request directly to them.
Pictured left to right:Jim Louis, staff since 2008; Greg Szypulski, staff since 2005; Nathan Sergent, staff since 2015; Ed Dorsey, Public Works Foreman since 2004
Public Works – Water
The Department of Public Works manages a wide range of street maintenance and improvement projects throughout Mars Borough, including: maintaining all roadways (except state roads); pothole patching; storm drain maintenance; storm drain installation & maintenance; plowing & salting borough roads and parking lots. Each fall, the Public Works staff conducts leaf pick-up throughout the borough.
On February 21, 1905, the citizens voted to build a municipal-owned water system and increase bounded indebtedness to cover the cost. Council also purchased a plot of ground for a reservoir. Today our modern water system serves homes, businesses, and fire hydrants. Fees collected from over 600 customers help us to maintain and improve our system. This passage from a history of Mars written by Mayor Lester Kennedy in 1973
Our Public Works staff is also responsible for the Borough Water System. Our tasks to ensure a safe supply of drinking water include running daily test at our water plant to verify that the quality of our water meets all standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Additionally, Public Works staff install and update water meters, water lines, and maintain two water plants and a reservoir. Mars Borough also maintains two tap-ins with the Adams Township Water Authority should we need a supply of fresh water during an emergency.
Public Works – Maintenance
Our Public Works staff is responsible for the maintenance of borough owned buildings and properties such as the Borough Building on Spring Street, Clay Avenue and Garfield Avenue playgrounds, and the Mars Athletic Complex (home of Marburger Field) on Hazel Street.
Public Works – Special Events
All of our Mars Special Events (Fourth of July festivities, Halloween parade, Mars New Year, Applefest, etc.) are supported by the Public Works staff. Our crew conducts a wide variety of prep for each event plus clean-up afterward!