Susquehanna County Commissioner Elizabeth “Betsy” Arnold visited Donald Trump’s White House last week with fellow commissioners from Lackawanna and other counties across the state as part of the Keystone County Commissioners' White House Conference.

Held last Thursday in our nation’s capital, the conference was designed to "develop a working relationship between the White House/federal agencies and the county commissioners of Pennsylvania,” according to an official White House press release.

Arnold, the only Susquehanna County commissioner to attend the event, and Laureen A. Cummings, the first woman elected county commissioner in Lackawanna County and the founder of the Scranton Tea Party, said they planned to use their visit as both a learning experience and a forum to bring local concerns straight to the federal level.  Both women are Republicans.

Besty Arnold at the White House Conference

“I just hope to learn, learn a lot, learn everything I can,” said Arnold, the Susquehanna County commission’s vice chairman, prior to her trip.

While in Washington, Arnold and other commissioners met and spoke with Sen. Pat Toomey (R – PA), and listened to presentations by Rick Dearborn, Deputy White House Chief of Staff, Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and none other than Kellyanne Conway, the flamboyant counselor to President Donald Trump.

Arnold noted that Conway referred to the commissioners as the “connective tissue” between the government and the people.  Arnold came away convinced that Trump wants to build relationships.

“I’m so glad I came down to this.  What a positive experience.  They seemed truly interested in building relationships with the Commissioners,” Arnold said later.

Prior to her visit, Cummings said she planned to bring to Washington, D.C., her concerns over the Senate Republicans’ failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.  Despite years of threats and attempts to pass repeal or replace legislation, Republicans still don’t have enough votes.

“That’s just irresponsible.  They were elected to do their jobs,” Cummings said.

The White House’s Intergovernmental Affairs team coordinated the schedule and representatives from several federal agencies are expected to attend.

"One of the primary goals of this conference will be to ensure that you are introduced to and connected with appropriate officials at each agency to ensure efficient coordination between the federal agencies and the Pennsylvania counties," an invite sent to commissioners throughout Pennsylvania read.

Other issues discussed included the condition of the country’s infrastructure, the opioid crisis and funding for unfinished highway projects.  Commissioners also toured the White House.

“Pennsylvania counties welcome relationship building with federal officials since many services that form the fabric of our communities are provided at the county level by way of federal mandates,” said Ken Kroski, the Director of Media and Public Relations for the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.  “County leaders hope to continue such dialogue to help better serve residents who depend on services which impact so many important areas of their lives.”

The updated Zoning Ordinance was adopted after a motion and a unanimous vote during the Susquehanna Depot Council meeting held on July 12th.  Council has been working with Carson Helfrich since October 2016 to enhance the borough’s current Zoning Ordinance.  Last month, during Council’s regular meeting a public hearing was held to give residents an opportunity to comment on the ordinance. There were no comments or objections giving Council the green light to adopt the new Zoning Ordinance.

Pocono Sign Company will install the long awaited Community Board, within the next couple of weeks reported Councilman Roy Williams.

Councilman Williams provided Council the Codes Report for the month of June, which included eight Notice of Violations, seven citations and the issuance of four building permits.

Susquehanna has been approved for the PA Surveillance Camera Loan Program Grant sponsored by Keep America Beautiful.  Councilman Williams said he, along with Chief Creamer would be trained on the equipment.  He stated all the boroughs and townships should be taking advantage of this grant since there is so much illegal dumping going on in the area. The program is designed to provide surveillance cameras to help capture evidence at active, illegal dumpsites and is provided at no cost to the end user.  In his opinion all municipalities should be taking advantage of this free program to eliminate illegal dumping in this area.

Speaking about the illegal dumping by Councilman Williams, he brought up a concern stating other boroughs and townships may not have the personnel or funds to have a Codes Enforcement Officer; the County could possibly entertain creating a County Codes Office. 

Tom Yoniski from Senator Baker’s office, along with PennDOT Officials met on July 5th to review the road conditions in Oakland, Susquehanna and surrounding areas with local representation.  Councilman Williams stated Rt. 171 was improved considerably, on a temporary basis in Oakland Borough this past weekend after meeting with PennDOT.  Councilman John Hendrickson stated Pennsylvania has the highest gas tax in the country and the roads are still terrible.

Councilman Williams informed Council he went with Kevin from DPW to review the status of Maple Street to see if it would qualify for the Community Development Block Grant.  He stated it definitely meets the criteria and he will be confirming the project by the July 28th deadline to the Susquehanna County Housing/Redevelopment Authority.

The Pennsylvania American Water Company provided the necessary bond of fifty thousand dollars as required by Ordinance 471.  The paperwork is in place for the next three years, stated Councilman Williams.

Thoughts of purchasing a portable generator for the garage to provide lights and heat were discussed as an update was given regarding the Borough building's generator which had been delivered and will be installed next week.  Councilman Williams stated for a 30 amp, wire and sub handle he received an estimate for labor and material in the amount of four hundred and eight dollars.  He stated purchasing a portable generator would run approximately eleven to twelve hundred dollars.  A size large enough to handle emergency situations should be considered.

Due to park construction, the DPW has been busy moving the stockpiles from under the bridge.  The land they used for chipping can no longer be used because of the park project; they will need another location to store the compost and mulch.  Council members spoke for a few minutes reviewing available locations in the borough for this purpose.

Chief Creamer stated the Dodge Durango needed repairs to pass inspection.  Council unanimously approved a four hundred and twenty-five dollar expense for two rotors, two shocks, brake pads, state inspection and one tire.

National Night Out will be held on August 1st; Chief Creamer said Susquehanna would be joining Lanesboro to hold this event at the school.  He informed Council it’s a community awareness venture, and he is requesting two hundred dollars to match Lanesboro’s donation to purchase items; that was unanimously approved by Council. 

Chief Creamer stated there were seven drug arrests in the month of June and Council thanked him for all the work he and the officers are doing to keep the Borough safe.

Groundbreaking for the Ira Reynolds Riverfront Park will be held on Thursday, July 13th at 1:00 p.m.  State Representatives, along with representatives from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Department of Environmental Protection attended.

Threats of flash flooding, heavy rain and fifteen mile per hour winds held off and the Susquehanna Home Town Parade started a little after 6:30 with people lining Main Street enjoying the show on July 14th.

The 2017 Grand Marshall was Norma Chacona, who started her Creative Play School in 1983, operating out of her home.  In 1985 they built a school outside of Lanesboro and she retired last year after dedicating thirty-seven years to children ages three to five years old.  The plaque says it all “It takes a big heart to shape little minds”. 

Participants of the parade included the American Legion Riders, Judy Herschel who is running for U.S. Congress in 2018 for the 10th District, State Representative Jonathan Fritz, Susquehanna Boy Scouts, Lenoxville Community Band who is celebrating their 80th year, Brownie Troop 52289, Montrose Motors, Adams CATV, First Baptist Church of Hallstead, and the Penn Dixie Band.

Fire Companies and ambulances participating were Susquehanna, Union Dale, Hallstead, Thompson, Five Mile Point, Clifford, Great Bend, Barnes Kasson and Montrose.

Trophy recipients were Brownie Troop 52289 for first place, First Baptist Church of Hallstead for second place, and Adams CATV for third place.

Fire companies who received a trophy was Hancock for the Longest Distance, Five Mile Point for the Oldest Engine, Clifford Ladder for the Best Appearance, Thompson for the Best Appearance Brush Truck, and the Judges Trophy went to Great Bend Fire Department.  The Best Appearance Ambulance was Barnes Kasson Medic.

The weather held out for the parade, but unfortunately a torrential rain started immediately after the last winner was announced and people scattered to get out of the storm. 

1st place trophy, Brownie Troop 52289.

3rd place trophy, Adam's Cable Service

2nd place trophy, First Baptist Church Hallstead

Trophy for Fire Truck Longest Distance, Hancock

Best Appearance Fire Truck, Clifford Ladder

Best Appearance Ambulance, Barnes Kasson Medic

Best Appearance Brush Truck, Thompson

Judges Trophy, Great Bend Fire Department

Grand Marshall, Norma Chacona

What steps can be taken to insure people burning garbage will stop, questioned a resident during Lanesboro Council’s meeting held on July 11th.  Council members stated burning garbage is not permitted in the Borough, and Chief Smith stated he followed up on complaints he received last week.  Chief Smith and Council said the only products allowed to burn are wood, paper, branches and leaves.

The resident stated the smell from whatever the neighbor was burning was so bad he closed all his windows even though it was warm out, and thought he was going to have an asthma attack.  He stated the fumes had to have been toxic, since it smelled like plastic or rubber burning. 

Council stated they are working with their Solicitor on a Property Management Ordinance and they will contact the Solicitor to assure burning garbage is addressed and fines are associated with this violation.

President Dan Boughton provided information for the community yard sale.  The sale will be the second week in August, 11th, 12th, and 13th, and it will be posted on the website.

Chief Smith provided the Police Report to Council which consisted of thirty traffic stops, ten citations issued, twenty warnings given, ten speeding violations, four careless driving violations, two suspended drivers license, two inspection violations, two no turn signal violations and nine equipment violations in Lanesboro.  Officers provided forty-six hours to the school, and fourteen hours in Thompson.  Thompson violations included fourteen traffic stops, which encountered six citations and eight warnings.  Nine speeding violations, one stop sign violation, three equipment violations and one careless driving violation were given.

Council adopted a Taser Policy per the request of Chief Smith.  The Chief stated all the officers have been trained to use a Taser and updated certificates are on file in the Police Department.

National Night Out is an annual event hosted by Police Departments, and Chief Smith stated Chief Creamer from Susquehanna would like to partner with Lanesboro.  He stated this event started in Montrose, until County officials took over and different towns were chosen to host it each year.  All the local Police Departments would congregate at one place, which in the past few years had been Hallstead, Great Bend and New Milford.  This year the County is asking each municipality who have a Police force to hold their own event.  The event will be on Tuesday, August 1st, from 5-7 p.m. at the Susquehanna Elementary School. Chief Smith asked Council to approve a two hundred dollar expense to purchase hot dogs and/or other items for the event, and Council unanimously approved the expense.

Councilman Dale Rockwell stated he contacted Harmony Township last month about the price of the brush hog and he still hasn’t heard back from them.  He said he would give them another call for the information.

President Boughton stated Oakland Borough, Oakland Township, Harmony Township, Susquehanna Borough and Lanesboro gathered together to speak about road conditions.  He said PennDOT representatives didn’t attend the meeting, but they reportedly met with Borough representatives in Oakland Borough to review the condition of Rt. 171 that was repaired this past Saturday.

Council discussed for a few moments the roads in the Borough and their deplorable, neglected conditions with PennDOT not working towards a plan to repair them.  Some of the more serious road conditions Rt. 171 (Jail Hill) reportedly narrower because of a barricade, Rt. 171 below Church Street on the river side the guiderail is missing the supports due to erosion of the ground supporting them, Turnpike Street is a wreck, multiple potholes on Main Street, and the sinking of Grand Street by the guardrails is getting worse.  The only road slated for repair that they know of is Rt. 92, Susquehanna to Jackson; rumor has repairs starting the end of this month.

A fine levied against the operators of a controversial gas compression site in Forest Lake Twp. has made Susquehanna County $10,000 richer after the company proved its site now complies with local sound ordinances.

Xpress Natural Gas, LLC, also known as XNG, paid the $10,000 fine after voluntarily shutting down late last month in reaction to legal action taken against it by the county Planning Commission.

Having received the $10,000 fine, the county’s lawsuit is now dropped and the site is now up and running.

“They were in compliance,” said Susquehanna County Commissioner Alan M. Hall.  “They filed with the Planning Commission noise study and still agreed to pay $10,000,” Hall said.

This week’s developments cap months of wrangling between the two sides over the 130,000 square foot site on Lake Hill Road.

In February, the Planning Commission granted XNG conditional approval to operate pending receipt of the results of a sound test.  XNG had the sound study done that same month but when the results came in that showed it did not comply with local sound ordinances it failed to inform the county.

Late last month the commission sued XNG after learning of the results of the sound test.  In response a lawyer for XNG said in papers filed in court that his client would shut down and have another sound test performed.  The results of that sound test, received by the county last Friday, proved the site to now be in compliance.

Late last week, county planning commission head Robert G. Templeton said that once the county received proof that noise levels at the site now comply with local ordinances, the county would no choice but to grant XNG final approval.

County officials had earlier showed frustration with what they alleged was XNG’s exploitation of the planning board’s long standing practice of granting conditional final approvals to projects.

Because of this case, Susquehanna County will no longer grant conditional final approvals, both Templeton and Hall have said.

Templeton said that in the past companies complied with requirements like the sound study, but in this case XNG failed to comply, forcing the county to change its longstanding procedures.

Township residents living near the site continue to complain of loud noise from the compressors as well as unpleasant odors.

Based in Boston and Stratham, New Hampshire, XNG runs sites like the one on Lake Hill Road which compresses natural gas from local companies to make it easier to transport long distances.

In March the DEP announced that it awarded XNG a $200,000 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant to allow the company to buy 10 compressed gas transport vehicles.  Prior to that, in January, DEP gave XNG $176,000 in job creation tax credits and an $11,050 employee training grant.

Mayor Ron Beavan informed Council he attended a meeting in Susquehanna with members from Lanesboro, Harmony Township, and Susquehanna Borough during Council's meeting held on July 13th.  He said Senator Lisa Baker sent a representative to meet with them and PennDOT to review road conditions in the area.  As a result of the meeting sections of Rt. 171 in Oakland Borough were fixed on a temporary basis this past weekend.  Mayor Beavan stated he was informed a portion of the road would be milled and paved in September.  When PennDOT officials were asked when Rt. 171 would be repaired and paved in the Borough they stated the paving was pushed back to 2020. 

Another meeting Mayor Beavan reported on attending provided information of a grant program that would supply cameras to be used for surveillance for illegal dumping.  He asked Council if this would be something they felt was needed.  Council replied there were two locations they could definitely use the cameras and it would be worthwhile to pursue obtaining the grant.

Councilman Brian Rhone brought up an issue with a property that has been a constant problem with unregistered vehicles parked all over the lot with multiple citations issued in the past. It’s an ongoing problem with citations issued, property owner cleaning it up and then reverting to the same situation. Councilman Rhone said he was near the property over the weekend helping out a neighbor and he counted nine cars, and at least fifty tires.  Surrounding neighbors are complaining, not only about the unsightliness of the property but rats are now a hazard in the area. Council spoke for a few moments about their options on how to rectify this situation on a permanent basis.

Councilman Doug Arthur reported he picked up garbage at the park; it looked like an animal got into the pail.  He said someone did donuts in the baseball field, and he will ask the Police to review the camera tape.

Secretary Florence Brush

Councilman Roy Williams and Project Manager Judith Herschel from Susquehanna Borough attended the meeting to pose a request to Council members regarding a piece of property they own by the river.  Councilman Williams asked Ms. Herschel to speak on behalf of their request.  Ms. Herschel showed Council members a map of the property, which included the property that is slated for the Ira Reynolds Riverfront Park.  She stated the piece of property that is owned by River Bounty is deeded as a thoroughfare.  She wasn’t sure if River Bounty deeded it to Oakland Borough. By the definition of a thoroughfare it is causing a problem since it is so close to the pathway of the project, and it's considered as a roadway.  Susquehanna Borough would like Council to consider reverting it back to an easement, and they can specify the easement can be used for certain traffic, but not public use.

Oakland Borough Council members stated Riverfront Park is an asset to the community.  Comments included it may keep families in the area, since they are moving out by the numbers, and they would be happy to do whatever they needed to help out with the project.  Councilman Dibble said it would be nice to have a boat launch nearby.  It was decided the two Borough solicitors would work out the details. 

Two residents attended the meeting seeking Council’s guidance on two separate matters. One resident asked Council if she could view the code for buildings and boundary lines.  Code Enforcement Officer Shane Lewis stated Oakland follows the International Property Maintenance Code, Residential Code, and the Existing Structure Code that were adopted in the year 2000.  He informed her she was more than welcome to read them and answered specific questions she had to the best of his knowledge.

The second resident discussed with Council and Shane Lewis several topics resulting from a vacated road in the Borough.  She wanted to have clarification on the process of what needed to be completed for the additional property and asked Council to notify the county of the road vacation. 

Secretary Florence Brush informed Council they received thirty-three thousand, four hundred seventy-eight dollars and fourteen cents from the Impact Fee.  Council unanimously approved a forty-sixty split, with the water authority receiving forty percent of the allotment.

The meeting was adjourned and Council invited everyone to stay as they presented Florence Brush with a beautifully decorated, delicious cake for her birthday.