- CONTRIBUTE
-
- Story Ideas
- Send Corrections
LANCASTER COUNTY, AUGUST 8, 2012 - An unintended consequence of the passage of Act 73 has been a cap of $1000 on donations made by the Lanchester Landfill. For many years the Lanchester Landfill has been making sizable annual donations to community organizations. Bob Watts, General Manager of the Lanchester Landfill, said it all started when the Water Authority of the City of Chester raised the rates of some residents of Chester County for which it provides water to fund Chester City. Act 73, introduced by State Senator Dominic Pileggi (of the Media, Delaware County area) will place a cap of $1000 on donations to entities such as the fire companies, the library, the Eastern Lancaster School District and the Caernarvon Land Preservation Association, among others. The bill was signed into law by the governor on June 27 and it goes into effect in 60 days.
Watts said, “We will try to make donations before the law goes into effect. The days of giving $10,000 to $12,000 for a community project are behind us. The borough of Honey Brook has been saying they get a lot of traffic from the landfill (and) we have the Borough in mind. There are multiple unintended consequences. We had been donating $12,000 to the Elanco School District in lieu of taxes, but now we can only donate $1000.”
The Board is open and listening to new ideas. The Open House at the Lanchester Landfill is planned for Saturday, October 6. There will be lots of food, games for the kids, tours and useful information available. The Caernarvon Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary will have their food wagon there near the administration building. Watts said income raised by the food concession always helps the fire company.
The height of the landfill has been reached at the western end, and that area will be seeded. In a few years the Scenic Outlook will be moved to the western end of the landfill, said Watts. To date Honey Brook Borough has not sent a representative to join in the committee formed to study the advantages of a cover of woody vegetation at closed areas in the landfill. There are four other municipalities participating in the program.
Captain Bill White from the Lancaster Barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police said the Ephrata Sub Station will be closing on August 18. Officers will instead be dispatched from the Lancaster Barracks. White said that there will be no difference in the response time, and that there will be a 25 percent increase in the personnel at Lancaster. A small staff will remain at the Ephrata Station for several weeks to respond to anyone who might need help. A police car will be assigned to Brecknock and Caernarvon Townships.
Because of some cuts in the state budget, there have been other changes in The Pennsylvania State Police. There is a shortage of officers, but a full contingent of 115 cadets is enrolled in the State Police Academy, said White. The officers at the Lancaster Barracks are familiar with Lancaster County. The phone number at Lancaster is 717-299-7656.
The Elanco Library has had a successful summer reading program, said Jim Cox who spoke as a representative of the library. There were 1084 teens and children and 345 adults signed up.
Local Author Alden Hoffman will have a program where he will autograph his new book “If I were President”.
From August 11 to 18 there will be a program at the library to encourage local participation in area businesses. Children can visit participating businesses and get a credit and then meet at the New Holland Park on August 18 for an ice cream social with prizes.
There will be a program sponsored by Philip Maitland on Wed. August 24 at 7 pm at the Library to study and view Monarch Butterflies.
The Caernarvon Fire Company has gotten approval for locating a L.E.D. sign in front of the fire company.
Township Engineer John Roche said the management at Pool Forge is studying the benefits of stream bank restoration along the banks of the Conestoga Creek at Pool Forge Park, under the bridge on Rt. 23, and downstream. If there are any comments, they should be forwarded to the supervisors before the September meeting, said Chairman Doug Maitland.
A final inspection will be done at the new Turkey Hill convenience store, said Roche. There is a concern about adequate space at the delivery area. Maitland said there might be a dangerous situation caused by cars cutting around parked vehicles.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is putting together a new draft on storm water management. Questions and comments should be in by September 7, 2012.
Maitland said the board will be looking into obtaining proper forms and letterheads, while observing the policies of townships similar to Caernarvon, in establishing a program for resident to have their septic systems pumped. Plans are being put together to require residents to have their septic systems pumped out at three year intervals by a licensed hauler. Notes will be made of problems with the system. Supervisor Gary Van Dyke said to make it “as simple as possible”.
Heritage Days at Pool Forge are planned for Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be a car cruise on September 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Run for the Cows, a 5k race to raise funds for land preservation, is also on the schedule. Please call 1-717-445-4244 for more information, said Robin Buckwalter, administrator of Historic Pool Forge.
Historian Mark Dzuban has provided interesting information about the dates of the historic Sycamore Trees at Pool Forge. He said that the tree in front of the mansion is thought to be 275 years old. Dzuban will look into the ages of the historic trees along Route 23.
The Caernarvon Ag. Committee met on July 16. There was a work session creating a transfer development rights sending ordinance. Township solicitor Stephen Kraybill is reviewing the ordinance, which the committee wants to have it completed in 2013. The next meeting of the Ag. Board will be on Aug. 23.
Maitland said PP& L is improving their sub station near Bowmansville to be able to provide energy in case of an emergency. New poles will be erected along Lambert Road to provide connection with an improved power grid extending south past Route 23.
A photo ID will be needed for the November 2012 election. A drivers’ license that has not expired within 12 months, a valid U.S. Passport, a U.S. Military ID, a photo ID from an institution of higher learning, or a government employment ID is sufficient identification.
For the latest news via our social media channels, check out the Tri County Record on www.Facebook.com/TriCountyRecord and on www.Twitter.com/TriCountyRecord.
