ZELIENOPLE — Borough council authorized the use of a $3.5 million dollar loan from Butler County Infrastructure Bank at their meeting on Monday evening.

The topic was tabled from the last meeting, and presented by Donald Pepe, borough manager of Zelienople.

The loan would be used to complete a multi-phase revitalization of Zelienople's Main Street and several projects attending to stormwater issues.

According to Pepe, the Main Street project has been in the works for eight years, with construction starting four years ago. The new loan has a 10-year term, and if the council decided they did not need the full amount, it could be returned without consequences.

“The $3.5 million needs to be paid back at $377,000 a year,” Pepe said. “With grants we have out, too, we can find out how much we can give back.”

Pepe also said these plans would not be executed until next year.

Other business included the approval of Zelienople on Ice, an annual ice sculpting contest to take place on Nov. 27 and approval of Small Business Saturday in the Borough.

Allen E. Bayer, council president, started a discussion on whether or not to make masks optional in the borough as COVID-19 numbers have remained low throughout Butler County.

It was presented by other council members to possibly require proof of vaccination for any visiting parties in the borough, so as not to spread the virus.

Some members of the public expressed concern at this.

The discussion was tabled until further notice.