Townships withdraw sewer plan

VALLEY VIEW - The Hegins-Hubley sewer project seems to be slipping further away instead of coming closer. Hegins Township Supervisors announced Monday evening that both townships have agreed and they are going to take Earl Frailey's advice from DEP and withdraw the sewer plan.

Supervisor Brad Carl said Frailey contacted him and said during his review it was determined that more testing should be complete before moving forward with the plan.

Both boards of township supervisors have agreed to withdraw the plan and hire Randy Young, sewage enforcement officer to conduct more testing, that according to Hegins Township Supervisor Chairman Chad Richards, should have been conducted when the process first began when Light Heigel was still the engineer.

The supervisors are also going to consider adding Lambertson, Fountain and more outlying areas of Hegins Twp. onto the plan. Richards said Hubley is going to be conducting testing and possibly adding Fearnot onto the plan as well.

Richards said this is something that DEP is requesting the townships to do.

Rausch Creek Wind Farm

Hegins Township Supervisors announced they received notification from Martha Harring, PPL Community Relations Director, that PPL will be adding more wires to connect to the proposed Rausch Creek Windfarm for both Frailey and Hegins Townships.

The supervisors have received a letter from BP Wind Energy dated February 22, that they will not appeal the Hegins Twp. Zoning Hearing Board's denial of the erection and maintenance of a meteorological test tower. BP stated in the letter that the information would have been helpful, but they feel they have already gathered enough data to know that a wind farm will be beneficial at this location. The letter went on to say that BP wants to work with the township and would like to meet with them to answer any questions the public may have. BP also invited the supervisors to visit their latest project the Mehoopany Wind Farm in Wyoming County.

New solicitor and meeting date changes

Hegins Township has hired a new solicitor. Gretchen Coles Sterns, a Pottsville based attorney, will now serve as the township solicitor.

"While I was hospitalized Supervisor Carl decided to poll the people to hear their thoughts and opinions concerning the solicitor," said Supervisor Richards. "He received a lot of response. We felt since both Hegins and Hubley are working on a big project together such as the sewer, that maybe it would be better for us to have a different law firm than Hubley."

Richards said the supervisors looked for someone who specializes primarily in municipal law. He said they were very impressed with the way she could answer any question they asked.

She was hired effective April 1. The fee is $225 meeting retainer and then $110 an hour for her services.

Due to the hiring of Solicitor Sterns, the supervisors had to change the dates of the township meetings. Attorney Sterns is already committed to another township on the first Monday of the month, so Hegins Twp. supervisors will now hold their meetings on the second Monday of the month. The meeting will still begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Hegins Area Ambulance building on Gap Street. The new meeting dates will be April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, and December 9.

The supervisors have also changed the township secretary hours as well. The new hours for the secretary will be Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Wednesday and Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m. Evening hours can be made by appointment.

TV Community Pool

Hegins Township Supervisors have sent letters to all the other townships in the Tri-Valley School District to request volunteers to serve on the Tri-Valley Community Pool Committee. Supervisor Carl said Barry Township has agreed to help, but they have not heard from anyone else. Volunteers are needed to serve on a committee.

"We are hoping to have a committee in place by the end of the month," said Supervisor Carl. "There is a David A. Pizza fund raiser set for March 23 for the pool and we are hoping to meet after that. We want a committee to help current Pool Manager Linda Morgan to organize the concession stand, come up with ideas and improvements for the pool and possibly even fund raisers."

The supervisors are also sending letters to the local Rotary and Lions clubs to seek volunteers or assistance from them as well.

The pool is in need of certified lifeguards, certified swim instructor and concession stand workers for the upcoming season. Anyone interested should fill out an application at the township office.

Dump truck purchase

The board of supervisors voted to purchase an F-550 dump truck from Sunbury Motors at a cost of $67,779. The supervisors will finance the truck for a four year period and plan to use liquid fuel money to cover the cost.

Public comment

Hegins Fire Police Captain James Koons presented a financial report to the township supervisors. Koons explained that the fire police left the township to try and become a self-sustaining squad under the Hegins Fire Company. He said if it was a wrong decision to go under the fire company then so be it, but until everything is settled with ordinances and bylaws, technically the fire police are still governed by the township at this time. Koons thanked everyone for their donations and support throughout the years.

Dates to remember

The next meeting of the Hegins Township Supervisors will be held Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. at the Hegins Area Ambulance Association Building on Gap Street.

The next food pantry will be held March 20, beginning at 8 a.m. at the township building on Gap Street.

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