Proposed solar-powered Wi-Fi proposal for Irwin park goes dark

Irwin council this week essentially nixed a proposal to seek funding for picnic tables with solar panels that could power Wi-Fi and charging stations at the borough’s park off Pennsylvania Avenue.

Councilman Tyler Baum’s proposal from Aug. 9 to have the borough’s engineer research possible grant funding for the project died because none of the other five members on council offered to second the motion. The proposal was not debated at the meeting.

Other council members criticized Baum’s idea during an Aug. 1 workshop meeting. Some members questioned the additional cost of providing the service at the park, the monthly cost of Internet service and whether it was necessary to have it at the park.

Baum said after the meeting he was disappointed with the decision to not pursue funding for the project. Had a grant been available, he said the monthly cost would have been minimal.

“It would have been another amenity for the community, without being a burden on the taxpayers,” Baum said. “I think it would have been wide-reaching,” in terms of people using the service.

Council President Rick Burdelski said after the Aug. 9 meeting that he considered the cost of project in making his decision.

“Is this something we need at this time?” Burdelski asked, adding that the borough could spend money elsewhere. “We have so many other things to do.”