Borough officials are calculating costs incurred during torrential rain in late June that damaged streets, businesses and residences. The storm dumped about four inches of rain there, overwhelming storm drains and catch basins. A state of emergency was declared, and the council hopes to receive financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At its July 10 meeting, the council said the estimates are $162,000 for roads, over $20,000 in cleanup costs by the borough road crew and fire and police departments; and about $5,000 for the Hawley Area Authority. In addition, damages totaling $516,500 were sustained by about 30 property owners, 27 residences and three businesses.

Prospect Street was one of the worst hit roadways, with a torrential waterfall tearing up the pavement.

“There was significant damage,” said council vice president Mary Sanders. The Prospect Street damage will be covered through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), she said, and the Wayne County Redevelopment Authority has agreed to add to the grant to cover the storm damage.

Sanders said the borough needs to review its priorities regarding future grant money, concentrating on a long-term upgrade to manage storm water runoff. “It will be a multi-year project, up to five years,” she told her colleagues. “I believe we need to do this.”

Sanders urged the council to coordinate the project with Palmyra Township, since much storm runoff flows down from Palmyra into Hawley.

Council unanimously appointed Kiley & Associates for engineering services to recommend a plan for storm water improvements.