Tremont Twp. road project on hold

MOLLEYSTOWN - Tremont Township's major road project planned for this year is on hold. Board of supervisors' chairman, John Brommer, announced during the March 4 meeting that the submission of a Pennsylvania Infrastructure Loan application will be delayed until at least later this spring.

Brommer reported he had received information from Bill McMullen of ARRO Engineering, Orwigsburg, who was completing the application for the township that only currently approved applications were being reviewed by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The DCED, McMullen had said, would be accepting other applications if an influx of money is expected in July.

The supervisors had planned to borrow $250,000 from the DCED, payable over ten years, for the road project which included the repaving of approximately six miles of township roads. When the project was completed, the township's entire 7.5 mile road system would have been resurfaced since a section of the Molleystown Road has recently been resurfaced.

The entire cost of the project was estimated at $460,000 with the remainder of the funding coming from this year's liquid fuels account of $60,000, and $150,000 from the general fund. Future liquid fuels payments, usually around $30,000, would be used to pay off the loan.

Stump's Run

The area's recently appointed Upper Swatara Watershed Local Recovery Manager, LRM Bill Reichert, reported the Bureau of Abandoned Mile Reclamation project at Stump's Run, which is located on the Hickory Mountain east of the Molleystown Road, should begin within the next few weeks. He assured the board that both he and Wayne Lehman from the Schuylkill Conservation District would be keeping an eye on the project. Vice-chairman, Herman Lengle, reported he and roadmaster, Larry Bender, had met with the company slated to fill-in the stripping pits and provided permission for Earth Movers to place a trailer on the township building property plus install telephone and electric lines to it. Since large equipment would be moved over township roads, the supervisors will be contacting McMullen for input. According to McMullen, Rodney Webb of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is in charge of the project which is to be completed in April 2014.

Devil's Hole

Reichert also noted a $151,022 'Growing Greener Grant' for the design of the Devil's Hole project has been approved, obtained through the efforts of Lehman. Although this project will take some time due to the cost of the project and the permitting process, smaller projects can happen much quicker and he is currently looking for a contractor to donate some time for a small project in Pine Grove Borough.

Guilford Mills

Reichert also reported on a project in the making involving Guilford Mills. "I can't say enough about Guilford," said Reichert. "They're really committed to the community. We rarely see that anymore. I'm really impressed." In addition, he noted that the watershed group's efforts to solve future flooding in the area would take a coordinated effort by all the members as well as the legislators. Both Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, and Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, said Reichert, have committed to that effort. "Everybody in the state," he noted, "would be going after Marcellus Shale money, and we will too."

Timbering

Lengle reported there is another activity scheduled in the township. The commonly referred "Zimmerman Estate" property located on the Sharp Mountain, off the west side of the Molleystown Road will be the site of a select timber cutting. Lengle noted he had met with Seth and Steven Yoder Lumber of McAllisterville, Pa., and cautioned them about locating property lines since the Zimmerman property not only borders private properties in the village of Molleystown, but also State Game lands. He noted that secretary Margaret Davenport had faxed the company a copy of the township's timber ordinance. "We also want to know where they'll be entering the Molleystown Road," said Lengle.

Trucks

Bender discussed continuing problems with tractor trailer trucks using the Rausch Creek Road to get to Big Lots. His request was that some signs be made instructing trucks to use Exit 107 of I-81, and erecting them, with land owners' permission, on properties at the I-81 Ravine exit. "Every year they're stuck on the hills (during snow storms)," said Bender. "Gotta do something."

In other business,

- Information was received from the state concerning a "Yellow Dot" program which calls for the placement of a yellow dot on the rear window of a vehicle to alert emergency responders to look for medical information in the vehicle glove box.

- Lengle noted that the township has $210,000 available for a road project this year, but it is not enough to complete the Molleystown Road which is estimated to cost $250,000.

- Emergency Management Coordinator Les Kaufman requested PennDOT be asked to place additional signage at the Intersection of Route 125 and Molleystown Road. Brommer added that trucks also don't stop when coming off I-81.

- Kaufman suggested, with the time approaching for brush fires, the fire company should have a key to the Tulpehocken Rifle and Pistol Club property. Bender will discuss the suggestion with the members.

- As requested by the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, a copy of the township's "Road Opening" Ordinance was forwarded to them. It was noted that the authority provides both water and sewer services to the township.

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