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There couldn't have been better weather in mid-July to kick off Hometown Days in Susquehanna Depot on the 20th. Music, sirens, flashing lights, cascades of candy, and, of course a few politicians, entertained smiling people all the way from the school grounds, along Turnpike Street, down Broad Avenue to Main Street and the shopping plaza parking lot, the town got ready for a celebration.

A long line of fire trucks and ambulances, all polished up for the occasion, assembled at the school, together with various floats, some hungry horses, a few odd vehicles, and a collection of rambunctious motorcycle riders.  Many of the celebrants distributed candy to the children in the crowds along the route; the Lions Club float offered sunglasses instead, symbolizing their commitment to better eyesight during their 70th anniversary year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe it was because of a little recent rain. While most of the talk at the Harford Township Supervisors' meeting on July 17th was about the roads (as usual), there weren't many complaints about dust (unusual, for this time of year). But there were complaints about speeding; the poor condition of Lower Podunk Road (Podunk: "An imaginary small town taken as typical of placid dullness and lack of contact with the progress of the world") and who will pay for repairs; and why can't "impact fee" money be used to tar and chip the roads?

As it happens, the township last month received its annual distribution from state Act 13 collections in the amount of $570,486.94, somewhat higher than anticipated in the budget. Supervisor Dustin Walker said that these funds are used primarily to keep local taxes low. The money has been used in the past to purchase equipment, to hire contractors to refurbish some roads, and to make up for shortfalls in various parts of the budget.

Altogether, according to the treasurer's report, as of July 17, 2018 the township had about $1.5 million in the bank. Depending on how you count it, chunks of that money are allocated for specific purposes, such as sewer upgrade construction, or designated as "state funds" for use exclusively on the roads.

The Supervisors allowed as how repairs to the poor job done by a contractor on Lower Podunk could end up costing the township. The Susquehanna County Conservation District and Penn State's Dirt & Gravel Program funded the work through a grant, and officials of the Conservation District determined that the contractor was at fault. Unfortunately, that contractor is now out of business, or otherwise absorbed by another company. So the question remains how to get the work redone, and so far there are no answers.

Naturally, of course, once potholes are removed, and the roads are graded and resurfaced, people take advantage and drive faster. Can we put up speed limit signs? Well, that might require costly engineering studies, and who would enforce them anyway? What would it take to rent police to patrol the roads? Perhaps signs at the ends of more populated areas… but this is Harford Township, after all. In areas with children, perhaps special signs warning drivers to slow down? All questions and ideas were broached for further consideration.

In the meantime, according to rumor, PennDOT isn't expected to repair the bridge on Route 547 that has that road out toward Gibson officially closed until next spring.

The Supervisors announced that the township's insurer has delivered a check for repairs to the township building, damaged during the hail storm in May. What are the odds of finding a contractor to do the work before next year?

Township Secretary Carolyn Jennings reported that the work on the sewer system under a grant from the state Department of Community & Economic Development has been completed, with the replacement of 24 new pumps.  The township is awaiting a check.

In response to an inquiry, Ms. Jennings also reported that, with final tabulations not yet completed, it looks like the "cleanup" program this year will just about break even.

Supervisor Sue Furney said that she is making some progress assembling materials for the creation of a Parks & Recreation Committee for Harford.

Ms. Furney also announced that the Supervisors' August meeting will be moved up one week, to the 14th, in deference to the Harford Fair. Wouldn't want to miss any of that.

Meetings begin at 7:00pm at the township office on the un-detoured part of Route 547. The Harford Fair is open all day, every day during the 3rd full week of August, and opens with a free ice cream social on Sunday evening, August 19th.

What could New Milford Township do with $742,644? That's the amount the township received from the Act 13 "impact fee" distribution this year, as shown on the treasurer's report for the July meeting on the 18th. Well, according to that same report, they spent a large chunk of it on a new truck: the accounts payable line showed $252,341.38 for the month, which Roadmaster Jack Conroy attributed to the purchase of the truck.

Page Lake Owner association representative, Bill Friedah had another suggestion: could it be used for sewers? Township Supervisor, Don Shibley didn't know, but said he would refer it to the township's solicitor. On the other hand, Mr. Shibley was very clear that he didn't "really want anything to do with the sewer."

Page Lake property owners have been trying to get their community connected to the New Milford/Hallstead/Great Bend sewer system since the system was built, many years ago. At that time the lake area was considered too remote, but some of the owners are determined to find a way to alleviate sewage problems in their neighborhood. Mr. Friedah has been a regular at the township meetings recently, and has met with the New Milford Municipal Authority (NMMA), the office that oversees the borough's sewers, to share information and to try to elicit support for his effort.

Mr. Friedah said that connecting Page Lake to the municipal sewer is now estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $4.5 million, of which some $750,000 would be required for preliminary and preparatory paperwork. He said that the NMMA has agreed to operate and maintain a Page Lake branch of the system, but no one is interested in participating in its construction. He is exploring the possibility of creating a broader municipal authority, where now the NMMA is a sort of adjunct of the Hallstead-Great Bend Joint Sewer Authority (HGBJSA) which operates the plant on the river in Great Bend Borough.

Mr. Friedah is also exploring the possibility of the line to Page Lake crossing Salt Lick Creek, instead of trailing all the way down Route 492 to New Milford Borough. He expects to meet next with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about his ideas.

As long as he had their attention, Mr. Friedah asked what the Supervisors could do about 2 properties in his area where buildings are collapsing. Mr. Shibley said he would refer that to the township's solicitor also.

As usual, the Supervisors reviewed a number of notices from DEP relating to a variety of projects and permits in the township, some of which are:

• Adams & Hollenbeck's "waterworks" (the large, circular swimming pool alongside the three-lane) is expecting to receive a permit to draw water from Salt Lick Creek.
  
  
• The Constitution Pipeline has been awarded an extension to the end of 2020 to complete the section of the transmission line through Brooklyn, Harford and New Milford Townships.
  
  
• No issues were found during annual testing of the Lyncott landfill site.
  
  
• Pentagon Energy received a stormwater discharge permit for their compressed natural gas filling station on Route 492.
  
  

Emergency Management Coordinator, Ken Bondurant, reported that the update to his 5-year plan has been completed. The county-wide plan will the subject of an upcoming public hearing. Mr. Bondurant said that his part of the plan covers the unique characteristics of New Milford Township, with a large presence in the natural gas industry, and the township's proximity to the interstate.

And Township Secretary Nancy Tyler said that the office staff would like to attend the regional conference of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) if the program offers any sessions on accounting or administration. The conference is scheduled for October in Wilkes-Barre.

The next public meeting of the New Milford Township Supervisors is scheduled for Wednesday, August 15, 2018, beginning at 7:30pm at the township offices on Route 11 north of the borough.