As borough garage project continues, Catizone files suit to stop it

POTTSVILLE – A former Shenandoah borough official is suing to stop the construction of the new borough garage at Bicentennial Park, though the bulk of the alleged damage may already be done.

Katie Catizone, borough council president from 2022 until 2024, filed suit in Schuylkill County Court against the borough seeking an injunction to stop the ongoing construction of a new garage at the south end of Bicentennial Park. Dutchmen Construction is currently building the structure on a $469,460 contract.

Judge James Goodman set a hearing for June 12 at 2pm on the matter.

Her lawsuit, filed representing herself, alleges the borough “has no intentions on complying with the express conditions of the deed.” She cites an April 22 Sentinel article which itself cites the deed as obtained from the Schuylkill County Recorder of Deeds office.

It was initially brought to borough council’s attention by officers of the Shenandoah Jr. Blue Devil football and cheer organization.

The deed states that the land “shall and will only be used for recreational purposes, for the benefit of the community and its citizens.”

“In the event that it shall or will not be used for said recreational purposes, it shall revert to the grantor, its heirs, successors, and assigns.” The Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce gave the property to the borough for $1 in 1970 with that condition.

Solicitor James Crossen said at the time he would review the deed. Construction, though, has moved forward at a rapid pace instead.

Violating the deed restriction, Catizone contends, keeps her and the general public from enjoying “the usage of the donated recreational state.”

She is asking the court to maintain the status quo of the property and maintain the character of the land as intended by the donor.

Bicentennial Park is the largest park in the borough parks system, she said.

“The public interest favors the preliminary injunction due to the fact that the park is a
dedicated recreational space utilized regularly by the public,” she contends.

Catizone also contends that the borough delegated all authority over its recreational facilities to the Shenandoah Recreation Authority in the 1960’s. That body has been seldom active since its establishment. Its last spell of notable activity was managing the Sandy Beach Recreation Area in West Mahanoy Township.

She calls the borough’s actions in building the garage as vandalism, citing a borough ordinance pertaining to parks.

“Due to the fact that the borough began to damage the Bicentennial Park after learning it was deeded for recreation only, their continuance of non-recreational construction activities [and] destruction in the park is a malicious offense,” she contends.

Borough officials contend that the new facility is needed as a replacement to what they believe is an ailing building, their 2006-built garage on the northwest side.

Rats have been an issue in the building and the vehicles it houses, Borough Manager Mike Cadau has repeatedly told the public and the Sentinel. In a walkthrough of the garage and Bicentennial Park on April 28, Cadau said that issue had resurfaced.

He added at that time that the current garage is heated by a single wood-pellet stove and doors had been damaged.

Public Works Director Brian Oliver said at that time that replacing the garage on the current site isn’t feasible as maneuvering space is needed to properly park the trash truck.

“I need the building to be wider to get the trash truck in correctly,” he told the Sentinel. “It has to be backed in on an angle because it’s too long.”

The site for the new garage has moved multiple times. Initially, officials eyed Vine Street Park on the west end. Residents swiftly opposed that plan and officials said infrastructure challenges forced them to move on.

Cadau stressed urgency at that point. and the proposed site moved to Bicentennial Park, initially to the large field on the east end of the park.

The Jr. Blue Devils came out in force against that effort as it would have replaced the field they have used for practice for the past several years.

It also drew concerns from Tom Twardzik, owner of Shenandoah’s largest employer and the park’s neighbor, Mrs. T’s Pierogies.

“I have concerns regarding the borough garage,” Twardzik said at an April 20 meeting. “As presented, it appears to be only one phase of a larger project, yet the full scope, total projected cost and final intended use of the building have not been publicly disclosed. Without that information, neither council or the public can properly evaluate the financial impact or necessity of this project.”

“Given the lack of publicly available information at this time, I strongly urge council to table this item until the full project plan and funding strategy are clearly disclosed,” Twardzik added at that meeting. Council didn’t.

Once construction began in mid-May, it progressed rapidly. This week, crews began attaching siding to the structure.

Judge Goodman will rule on whether to issue a preliminary injunction on Friday, June 12 at 2pm at the Schuylkill County Courthouse.

Catizone previously served on borough council for two terms beginning in 2018. She lost her re-election bid in 2025. On council, she served as chair of the parks and recreation committee.

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The article As borough garage project continues, Catizone files suit to stop it first appeared on The Shenandoah Sentinel.