Supervisors Look Ahead To Warmer Weather
By: Kenneth Books
Pike County Dispatch – Thursday, March 3, 2016
Dingmans Ferry- Spring is in the sights of the Delaware Township Supervisors.
The supervisors passed motions dealing with Easter, summer help and improvements to Akenac Park at their Wednesday, Feb 24, meeting.
Several motions had to do with the township Easter egg hunt, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, rain or shine, at Akenac Park.
The supervisors approved the purchase of supplies, for the hunt, not to exceed $700, OK’d the Lions Club to provide coffee, tea and hot chocolate and agreed to assign a constable to the event, which will run from 1 to 2:30pm and include pictures with the Easter Bunny, crafts and prizes, while they last. The supplies whose purchase the supervisors approved include such items as eggs, candy, dye and face paint.
Warm weather is just around the corner, and the supervisors agreed to advertise for several seasonal jobs.
Part-time gatekeepers for Akenac Park at a rate not to exceed $8 per hour for a maximum of 30 hours a week will be sought for Memorial Day through Labor Day. In 2015, four such gatekeepers were hired at a cost slightly more than $8,000, according to township secretary Krista Predmore. The 2016 budget for the positions is $9,000, she said.
Part-time lifeguards are also sought at a rate of no more than $10 per hour for a maximum of 30 hours per week, also from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Predmore said their jobs will include raking the beach, enforcing rules and other activities in addition to serving as first responders in case of emergency.
Finally, an ad will be placed to find a part-time maintenance/road crew helper at a rate not to exceed $10 for a maximum of 35 hours per week from May through Sept.1. In 2015, the township hired just one such person, who performs such tasks as grass mowing and road maintenance.
It was agreed to hire Van Jahnke Plumbing and Heating to install a tankless water heater at the Akenac Park Recreation Building. Three bids were received for the work: Van Janke Plumbing & Heating, $4,157.60; Combined Energy Services, $3,492.94; and Kocher’s Water Pumps & Tanks, $6,680.
The bids were reviewed be Boucher &James, Inc., which found that the Combined Energy Services proposal would likely result in additional costs to connect to the water system. The Kocher’s and Van Jahnke bids were similar, said Township Engineer Jon Tresslar, resulting in a recommendation to accept the Van Jahnke bid.
An estimate from Combined Energy Services was accepted for the Akenac Park kitchen of $4,800. The project will involve upgrading the existing piping for space heaters, fireplace and outside barbecues and providing piping for the new kitchen appliances, water heaters and furnaces.
PEEC Events at Akenac
The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) was given approval for use of Akenac Park for a summer camp every Wednesday from July 6 through Aug. 17 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. It will also use the park for several one-day activities. They are: May 28, July 2 and Sept 3, 2:30 to 5:30 pm, for Family Nature Weekends; July 10, 1 to 3pm, for pond exploration; July 17 and Aug. 7, 1 to 3pm, canoeing or, if the equipment is not available, pond exploration; July 24, 3 to 4:30pm, interpretive walk, focusing on plants, birds and natural history; and Aug. 20, 10am to noon, interpretive walk.
PEEC was also granted the use of the Quarry for fossil study March 4 from 9am to 1pm.An expenditure of $1,779.53 was approved for new street and road signs. According to Road Master Charlie Kroener, nearly 30 signs will be replaced. He said many are defaced and lack reflectivity and several are bent.
An expenditure of $932 was approved for Home Depot to replace existing Rec hall toilets, sinks and faucets, which are cracked and broken from use, Supervisor Chairman Jeffrey Scheetz brandished a photo of some of the fixtures showing the amount of wear and tear.
Earned Income Tax Meeting
A special supervisors meeting regarding Earned Income Tax is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, at 7pm Scheetz said the meeting would be a chance to listen and comment. He expects a full house.
Scheetz also announced the annual Dingmans Ferry Lions Club fish fry will take place at the township building Friday, March 4, from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
Supervisor John Henderson said any resident who wishes to see the improvements that have been made at Akenac Park can contact him and he will conduct a walk-through.