Road Pavers Will Be Busy In Coming Weeks
By Wayne Witkowski
Pike County Dispatch

DINGMANS FERRY -- Road crews will be seen in numbers around Delaware Township in the weeks ahead for five projects, with two more awaiting the execution of a grant to complete the awarding of bids received.

The township Board of Supervisors, after review by township engineer Jon Tresslar of Boucher & James and township Solicitor Thomas Farley, unanimously approved bids from Wayco, Inc. to tar and chip five roads. It was approved unanimously during the board's regular bi-monthly meeting last week.

The total $118,136 cost will be paid in half by Monroe Loan Share Account funds from casino gaming revenue and the other half through the township's General Fund, which Supervisor Jane Neufeld said afterward may be drawn from the state Liquid Fuels fund to the township.
LSA funds are divided among six contiguous counties that includes Monroe, Pike, Wayne, Northampton, Carbon and Lackawanna.
The board also approved removing and replacing the fishing dock and two swimming docks at Akenac Park lake. It unanimously approved the fishing dock project but passed the replacement of the other two docks in a separate vote, 2-1, with board Chairman John Henderson dissenting because he questioned whether one swimming dock needs to be replaced. Henderson said after his "no" vote that he was elected to the board by residents who want prudent spending.
Tar and chip road work, meanwhile, will take place on Pocono Acres, costing an estimated $36,527.37; Nichecronk Road ($18,625.44); Mary Stuart Road ($21,724.88); Johnny Bee Road ($14,596.72) and Emery Road ($26,661.60).
The board also approved unanimously for Henderson to execute some of the approved $896,000 to the township from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Multi-Modal Transportation Fund to resurface all of Doolan Road and part of Park Road in the township, pending awarding of bids.
"Advertising and bidding has already taken place for these projects. We cannot move forward until the grant agreement is fully executed," said township Administrator Krista Predmore afterward.
As for replacing the three deteriorating docks at Akenac Park lake, the total share of the township payment will be $33,709.10, after funding through a Marcellus mini-grant agreement between the township and Pike County Commissioners under the county's Scenic Rural Preservation Program. The grant was amended to allow for an extension through Nov. 30. Seaman's Marine will handle the project.
The current fishing dock is closed off against entry and the new one will be a floating dock with railing. It will be made of heavy gauge plastic that Predmore pointed out is easier to maintain and keep clean. The board followed Henderson's objection and will not install benches on the new fishing dock. "We could have that installed some other time," Henderson said.The total cost is $20,610.70, with $9,340.50 paid through the grant and the township paying the $11,370.20 balance.
The two swimming docks will cost the township $12,200.95 and $8,337.95, a total combined cost of $22,338.90.
"Costs go up. Removal goes up. Let's do it now. We have the money (in the budget surplus)," said Neufeld, who is township Treasurer.
Predmore could not estimate, when asked, when the project would be started and completed but said, "It won't take long, maybe on a Tuesday when the park is closed."
Supervisors also tabled a decision on replacing boats and canoes at the lake with ones made of either aluminum or fiberglass, allowing time to survey companies including contacting Kittatinny Canoes for some thought on the idea and perhaps purchasing some boats from them.
The board also approved the purchase of five tables and 60 chairs for the Akenac Park Recreation Building at a cost not to exceed $1,626.48. The motion was made after lengthy discussion on the subject during the board's workshop before the regular meeting when resident LoriAnn Hines, a member of the township Planning Commission, stressed the need for more seating to accommodate some of the bigger parties and receptions catered by her cafe that take place there. That purchase will be funded through the sale of unusable equipment that includes a walk-in refrigerator that recently sold for $3,500 and a dishwasher and bun warmer that will go on sale.
Habitat for Humanity of Pike County, Inc. was granted its request for a waiver of permit feeds pertaining to a handicap access ramp for a home located at Marcel Lake Estates in Dingmans Ferry. Habitat chapter Associate Executive Director Barbara Hupfer pointed out that the homeowning family's income "is below the poverty line and unable to pay the permit fee."
She said the nonprofit, ecumenical Christian Housing Ministry, through volunteer labor and donation in partnership with homeowners' efforts, "seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness."
In an unusual motion, the board agreed to an estimate from Sequoia Tree Service to remove a tree in an amount not to exceed $2,200. It will take out a white pine that was rooted in township property and toppled onto a tree on the Mele property on 1135 Milford Road, which created an overhanging hazard that could lead to an outage with the electrical power line leading into the house on the property.
The board also approved a $1,475.00 estimate from Tri-State Flagpole to install a 20-foot flagpole with a ground sleeve at the baseball field on Wilson Hill Road.
Supervisors also discussed during the workshop concerns about safety issues involving parking for the Pocono Environmental Education Center's tours of its camp groups of the quarry on 145 Wilson Hill Road, including for Geology Week in October. Supervisors pointed out that it might be better for PEEC campers' vehicles to park closer to the quarry because of township vehicles and vehicles from other companies driving into that area.