New supervisor and secretary hired in Hegins Township

VALLEY VIEW - Hegins Township Supervisors appointed a new supervisor and hired a secretary at Monday evening's monthly meeting.

Jay C. Deibert, of Valley View, has been appointed to fill the vacancy of Lyle Clark, who tendered his letter of resignation last month due to health reasons.

Besides Deibert, the township also received a resume from Michael Begis of Hegins, who was also interested in the supervisor position.

Deibert will be sworn in before the next meeting of the Hegins Township Supervisors. He will have to run in the general election in May.

Supervisor Chad Richards said both men were interviewed and after discussion, they felt Deibert was suited for the position.

Supervisor Clark abstained from the vote.

Kathy Moyer, who worked as township secretary in the past was re-hired by the supervisors after Vicki Harman resigned from her position last month.

Although Harman resigned at last month's meeting, the board formally accepted the resignation Monday evening. According to Twp. Solicitor David Rattigan the formality wasn't necessary, but he said the supervisors could do it that way if they chose to. Supervisor Richards made the motion and Supervisor Brad Carl seconded the motion.

The township office has new hours, effective immediately. The hours are now Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday, 3 to 7 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. The township secretary will no longer handle any police information since the secretary and police are in two separate buildings.

The township office can be reached by calling 570-682-9133 and the police station can be reached by calling 570-682--3133 .

In other business, Hegins Township Police Chief Steve Lohr warned the public about scams that are going around.

He said the latest scam that was reported last week is where someone called a residence and told the people they won a $100 Walmart gift card, but they needed credit card information to verify the identity of the person who won.

"People need to be very alert especially around this time of year," said Chief Lohr. The calls are made form cell phones and can't be traced."

Lohr said there are also fraudulent websites in which people attempt to make loans on the internet and the site disappears after they get the person to sent them money up front to process the loan.

Lohr also reminded motorists that even though it may not be raining, if there is fog, it's still a good idea to turn on your headlights to avoid being in a collision.

Someone has been dumping cat litter box contents in the alley and Chief Lohr says it's being investigated. He said that's considered littering and will be treated as such.

Zoning

A meeting concerning BP Wind Energy will be held Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Hegins Area Ambulance building.

The purpose of the meeting is to determine whether BP Wind Energy can place another wind test tower on the top of the mountain.

Hegins resident Ralph Lucht expressed his concern regarding BP Wind Energy.

"It's very important come to the meeting on the 12th," said Lucht. "We need people to speak out against them, anyone that wants to speak for them is welcome too, we'd love to hear what you have to say. Come and state your mind, BP is going to destroy this community. BP does that wherever they go. They come in and destroy a community for a few bucks in tax money and green credits to sell to Chinese people so they can set up a gas furnace in the coal region. People Need to get involved before they stick it so deep we won't be able to find it. BP is going to destroy this community guaranteed, I studied it closely, this is going to destroy the area. Look at where they put these things. They stick them on the top of the mountain and people who want to buy property see this and run the other way. These things do nothing but drain the economy and cause a tax burden. This is a bunch of crap pushed on us by the liberal group in politics in office right now. They are all a bunch of crooks and will destroy our community if we don't stand up for it.

Act 537

An update was given on the Act 537 plan. The supervisors said they were notified by Alfred Benesch that they anticipate DEP asking for a 60-day extension, which is not uncommon. They are also anticipating that DEP will ask that more on-lot surveys be conducted throughout both townships.

Supervisor Brad Carl also announced that there is a new project manager for the sewer project.

He said James Rhoades Jr. is now in charge of the project. Jaqueline Peleschak has been removed from the project by Alfred Benesch due to complaints received from both townships.

On November 28, both townships had a workshop session and discussed the management of on-lot systems.

Public comment

Susan Troup questioned the supervisors why the renovation of the police department was not put out on bid when the Shade Electric bill alone was over $19,000?

"We first did the evidence room in that building and Jimmy Artz did that and he wanted Shade Electric to do the electrical work and while Shade was in doing electrical he came to us and said you are going to have melted computers if don't do something with the transformer. We had to fix the single phase. We met with him and there were two problems with moving station, but we fist did the electrical part with putting 200 amp service and a 50 amp transformer. After fixing that problem we talked about moving the police station over there. In order to do that we needed to put a heat pump system in because the way the heating was we would have been heating the entire shop all the time. So instead of doing that we had a heat pump installed and that's how the bill came about.

"Were there quotes and proposals received?" asked Troup. "If not sealed bids you should have at least gotten three proposals from other contractors."

"Well if we didn't now what?" said Carl.

"You people are elected to do a job and need to follow the rules. This is a lot of taxpayer dollars spent and not checked around to see who could do it. I have nothing against Shade Electric, but if the cost is over a certain amount it must be put out on sealed bid."

Vicki Harman, former township supervisor and secretary, had a question on the treasurers report.

"If the public wants to get the final number on that report they need to subtract the $101,000 the township received from FEMA."

She also questioned whether Supervisor Lyle Clark was actually going to leave his position without telling the residents the true reason why he's leaving.

Clark told Harman she is hateful and she is the one spreading the rumors.

Dates to remember

Zoning hearing meeting Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. at Hegins Area Ambulance Building, Gap Street.

Budget meeting December 27, at 7 p.m.

Reorganization meeting is January 3, 7 p.m. at the Hegins Area Ambulance Building, Gap Street.

Food pantry will be held January 16, beginning at 8 a.m. at the township building on Gap Street.

Sign up for Text Alerts

Sign up for e-mail newsletters