Following a pedestrian accident on Main Street, Erin Berger came to Slippery Rock Borough Council to see what can be done to improve pedestrian safety for students.

Berger, representing Slippery Rock University student government, said she had visited with Nicole Rieder, who had been struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk from campus to Kraus Hall.

Rieder will not be able to complete the semester because of her injuries, Berger said. Berger made a point of trying to cross at the accident location and found it to be difficult. She said that Rieder, 25, is visually impaired and wanted to be housed among older students. She was assigned to Kraus Hall where non-traditional students are assigned.

Council president Jerry Heller said that the borough and the university are working together to improve pedestrian safety, not only at the Kraus crossing but at other locations along Main Street.

During the regular police report, Capt. Terry Brown from the police department reported that the repair to cruiser 596 was less extensive that anticipated saving the borough quite a bit of money. Instead of needing a new engine, it needed a new timing chain.

The police department is looking into grant funds to upgrade its records management software. The new systems make coordination with other departments and agencies more compatible.

Councilwoman Christy Tichy said that the Slippery Rock Community Library is investigating construction of a steel building addition to its current building. Representatives of the library are planning to visit the Saxonburg Area Library to see the steel building addition at that location.

An informational meeting with citizens and the borough engineer investigated some of the stormwater management problems along West Cooper Street in the borough. The driveway and grounds surrounding one-story student apartments known as Room at the Rock have not been completed to meet borough regulations. This site has been a point of contention with neighboring landowners for several years because of the stormwater from the development going onto their properties.

A report from the engineer will determine what the next steps are in resolving these problems.

A public hearing is set for 6 p.m. April 15 for a zoning change request by Campus Crest of North Carolina. Campus Crest has asked that 53 acres along North Main Street and backing up to West Water Street properties be changed from residential to multi-family residential. The developer brought the request to the Slippery Rock Planning Commission that determined that the requested change would be spot zoning and voted to recommend that council deny the request. Council will make a decision some time after the public hearing.