Municipal tax rate may be high, but Borough Manager says service quality makes it worth it
By Rick Marts, Correspondent, The Times
KENNETT — While international and national news reports show the Mideast in dangerous disarray and our own borders being flooded with homeless refugee children from Latin America, the Borough of Kennett Square is moving forward at full speed with infrastructure improvements, celebrations of life, and planning for the future, as highlighted at this week’s Borough Council meeting.
Mary Hutchins, Executive Director of Historic Kennett Square—the Borough’s marketing and economic development arm—led the good news by saying that several new businesses will soon open in town. These include a traditional gift boutique on State Street and a second boutique specializing on items from Columbia, South America.
Hutchins also plugged two popular summer events: the Murder Mystery and Art Stroll scheduled for August 1 and the Brewfest later in the fall. See the complete schedule of events at www.historickennettsquare.com.
Richard Lyon of the Kennett Area Regional Park Authority told the Council that the third concert of this summer’s free, every-Wednesday series at Anson B. Nixon Park will be held this Wednesday, July 9. He also said that some of Nixon Park’s infrastructure need improvement soon, including its upstream dam and the deteriorating banks of the stream. To remediate the stream bed, KAPA is seeking a grant from the state’s Growing Greener program.
To improve traffic safety, the Council approved installing stop signs on Magnolia Street at South Garfield Street in both directions. And to continue filling administrative positions, the Council appointed Sue Holloway to the Architecture Review board and to the Borough’s Planning Commission.
The Council outdid itself this month in approving special events involving the community. It approved applications for
• National Night Out to occur August 5; this traditional “lights on” campaign and symbolic front porch vigil has turned into a celebration across America with various events and activities including, but not limited to, block parties, cookouts, parades, exhibits, and safety demonstrations to heighten awareness and enhance community relations;
• Carter Community Development Corporation block party, (formerly “historic East Linden) to occur on August 23;
• Mushroom Festival Parade and Dining on September 5;
• Mushroom Festival, September 5-7;
• Homecoming parade on September 19 for Kennett High School, which will proceed north on Broad St. to Mulberry, then south on Union to return to the school; and
• A Google-sponsored youth camp requested by the Bayard Taylor Library to be held at 112 East State St.
In his report, Council President Spencer noted that the meeting with New Garden Township to discuss the Borough’s use of that township’s firing range has been moved to August 4 at 7 p.m.
During the public comment period, John Thomas of Broad Street brought to the Council’s attention that “we have the second highest municipal tax rate in southern Chester County.” He said, “I would like to ask Council to think about ways we could save money.”
In response to Thomas’s comments, Borough Manager Kucera noted that “Our municipal tax rate enables us to offer the level and quality of services expected by this community. The results speak for themselves. Businesses are locating here, people want to move into and settle in Kennett Square and send their children to our schools, and people feel safe being protected by the only 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year police force in Chester County.”
