Union Township tackles long range planning

“We will be planning a public meeting to look into what will be needed in a 10 year period,” said Supervisor Don Basile. “We will meet... ...again in August and September. There are some infrastructure concerns. The public is welcome to attend any of these meetings. We will consider a five year stretch and what can be done in ten years while considering inflation. We have to determine the financial obligations we will have - the tax revenue, road repairs and personnel. We want to get everything together. The budget will change quite a bit. We want to determine what we will need to get things done. We have to make plans to do it.”

“We are building two ball fields costing about $215,000. They will be ready for use next spring with reasonable time for grass growth,” said Supervisor John Saleneck. “We are not going to push the turf. It includes a multi-purpose soccer field and a baseball field with surrounding grass covered edging. Union Township doesn’t have the equipment to properly maintain the area. There are three more acres of land to maintain it. We have to consider getting a special mower to cut that kind of grass. A group said they would maintain the fields. Should we take a quarter million dollar facility and give it to them? Do they have the equipment to maintain it? If not we have to make sure we have the equipment.”

Township Attorney Fred Hatt said the Road Crew has been doing most of the park maintenance.

“At the end of the day the township has to make sure the facility is well maintained. We will meet with them about the offer. It is necessary because of the investment.”

A township official said Blazer Youth Sports did somewhat take care of the ball fields they used. Blazer Youth Sports sponsors Little League teams, independent of the Daniel Boone School District. As of June 18 that particular field was too wet to play ball.

Josh Brunner has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Boone Area Library.

Approval was granted to a resolution to abide with the 1995 agreement with Union Township and Haines& Kibblehouse regarding buffer zones around areas where stone quarrying is under way.

“In the last 13 months, two well-qualified individuals filled out forms to be considered for vacancies on the Union Township Municipal Authority,” said Nelson Ott, Jr. “There are presently two vacancies. Their names with applications are in the files.”

Saleneck said it is important to fill the vacant positions.

A 6 month extension was granted for Vistas at Riverside.

A 90 day extension was granted for the E.M.I. Motor Sports Park.

Hatt said a revised driveway ordinance will be ready for advertisement in July. A driveway can be redefined as a passage from the road to a garage. The requirements of an agricultural related driveway can be changed. Pointers will be included on shared driveways, a driveway to a person’s house and his business, and other commercial type driveways.

There was some discussion about locations where roadside parking is not permitted. The Township Code Enforcement Officer deals with illegally parked cars.

“The State Police will not enforce parking regulations on a township road,” said Hatt. “An ordinance will be ready for the July meeting.”

Township Manager Carol Lewis said she contacted the State Police at residents’ request. Several residents living along Geigertown Road have offered that State Police can park in their driveways to apprehend speeders and motorists passing other cars.

Township Engineer Tom Unger said they are still waiting for a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers before any work can start on replacing a pipe carrying a small stream under Centre Road. The road has been closed since November 2011. So far permits have been obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Boat Commission. Basile once said the costs of permits makes up about one third of the total cost of repairing the pipe.

Several residents living along Centre Road have complained about noise from all-terrain vehicles, said Ott. Lewis said there have been three complaints. The residents are asking for a sound monitor, and Unger said that he will see that noise monitors are set up.

Jim Yocum, chairman of the Recreation Committee, thanked the Road Crew for their good work in maintaining the recreation area.

The Sewer Authority does not have any money to work with, said Ott.