Route 209 to Open Nov. 21st
Route 209 through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area opens Wednesday, 13 months after Hurricane Irene damaged the road at mile marker 15.3, about two miles north of Route 739.
There, the pavement separated and dropped about 6 inches, and large voids developed under the pavement, threatening to create a sinkhole on the road.
The closure caused a long, unpopular detour up Route 739 onto Route 2001/Milford Road through Delaware and Dingman townships.
York-based contractor G.A. & F.C Wagman, had been working around the clock to complete the $4.3 million project in October. But worked stopped and equipment was secured in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy just as the job was wrapping up.
Sandy blew trees and power lines onto the work site and onto equipment, park spokeswoman Kathleen Sandt said. It delayed the opening of the main connection between Milford and Marshalls Creek.
The wires had to be removed but the construction site was a lower priority than private homes without power, so there was a wait for removal Sandt said.
Dingman-Delaware Insurance Volunteers
Dingman-Delaware Insurance Agency
Philly Viscardo, Rebecca Kochovos, and Pam Riddlehoover of Dingman-Delaware Insurance Agency are volunteering to assist Delaware Township residents in filing insurance claims and claims with FEMA free of charge and regardless of your insurance carrier.
If you have sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy, please stop by for assistance.
Where: Delaware Twp. Municipal Building
When: Monday, 11/5/12 & Wednesday, 11/7/12
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Contact #: 570-828-6406 (leave a message)
Delaware Twp EOC Closing
November 2, 2012
TO ALL CONCERNED PARTIES-
AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PROGRESS OF THE RECOVERY PHASE IN THE TOWNSHIP, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOWNSHIP EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR HAVE DECIDED THAT EFFECTIVE AT 1800 HOURS(6PM) TODAY, NOV.2- THE TOWNSHIP WILL SECURE THE OPERATION OF ITS EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTER.
EXTERNAL RECOVERY EFFORTS(POWER RESTORATION, DEBRIS MANAGEMENT,ETC) WILL STILL BE CONTINUED BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND REGULAR TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES UNTIL ALL SERVICES AND AREAS ARE BACK TO NORMAL.
EMERGENCIES SUPPLIES WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE TO TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS UNTIL THE CLOSING TIME INDICATED ABOVE.
ANY ACTUAL EMERGENCIES SHOULD BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO 9-1-1.
ANY AND ALL OTHER CONCERNS CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE TOWNSHIP DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS BEGINNING MONDAY NOVEMBER 5,2012.
AS NECESSARY, THE BOARD WILL CONVEY PERTINENT ANNOUNCEMENTS OR UPDATES TO THE COMMUNITY THRU THE CHANNELS USED THROUGHOUT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PHASE.
WE THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND COOPERATION IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES POSED BY THIS EVENT.
Yard Hydrant Available for Potable Drinking Water
October 29, 2012
Milford Water Authority has advised that in the event of long term power outages, residents will have access to a yard hydrant for potable drinking water located to the left of the Milford Shell Station. Residents are to bring their own jugs/containers to fill with water.
Greatest Threat Will be High Winds
October 28, 2012
Delaware Township's Emergency Management Agency has issued the following information regarding hurricane Sandy:
Based on the 9 am conference call with the NWS – it appears that although we will probably see a fair amount of rain, the greatest threat to our area will be high winds. Currently the models are predicting that there is up to a 70 percent chance to have sustained winds in excess of 39 MPH for quite an extended period, beginning Monday afternoon as the storm comes ashore and lasting until sometime Tuesday morning. There could also be gust well over 50 to 60 MPH. The current path has the storm coming ashore in southern NJ and going straight into southeast Pennsylvania and eventually turning north toward the middle of the commonwealth.
It appears that the heaviest rains may stay south and west of our area. But as was also mentioned, it is too early to tell exactly where the heaviest rains will fall as we are still over 24 hours away from landfall and tropical storms are known to be unpredictable and not follow what the weather folks predict. We have experienced that several times in the past. The Poconos and the Catskill were two areas that were mentioned frequently as perhaps seeing the highest winds and having the most uncertainty in the amount of rainfall.
From past experience, many of the heaviest amounts of rain have fallen east of the storm as the moisture is pulled in and dumped on the mountain slopes. Could that happen again – who knows. They do expect flash flooding as some of the heavier rainbands move through, but there is no way of knowing where those bands will strike.
Recommendations – continue to prepare for the worst and expect damaging winds and long duration power outages. I would suggest that if you didn’t like Irene in 2011, you will definitely not like Sandy in 2012.
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Press Releases
Twp. Approves No Tax Increase For 11th Straight Year
By Wayne Witkowski
DINGMANS FERRY -- Delaware Township will have no tax increase for another year after the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the 2019 budget at last week's meeting. "There hasn't been an increase in my seven years here (as township administrator). In fact, there have been several decreases," said Township Administrator Krista Predmore with a smile reagrding her undertaking with township Supervisor and Treasurer Jane Neufeld. There has not been a tax increase since 2008; however, taxes will not be decreased as they were in three recent years 2012, 2013 and 2016.
The tax rate holds at 11.68 mills, including 8.68 mills for the General Fund, 1.5 mills for the Recreation Fund and 1.5 mills for the Fire Fund. The General Fund has a listed $1,280,152.25 total income and $1,275,484.09 expenses. Any surplus will go into the township's capital reserve. Tax revenue for the Recreation Fund and Fire Tax Fund is $145,500 for each. Township contribution for the volunteer fire company is $16,085, although no funding was approved for a stipend payment to volunteer firefighters as a few other townships in Pike County are starting. Contribution for the township volunteer ambulance is $53,394.
Three budget workshops were held in the fall. "We are very happy to have the taxes unchanged," Neufeld said. 'There was a lot of opportunityto see how their (tax) money is being spent. Looking at the coming year, we believe we have provided not only for the upcoming operations but also have been able to identify more possible infrastructure work as well as unforeseen needs."
Supervisors also gave final approval for the Delaware Plaza project for Route 739, provided that six conditions are met. The approval came after project engineer Joe Hudak of Riley Associates presented updated blueprints for the hub that will be anchored by Weis Markets. Hudak was joined by John Stieh, representing developer Charles Miller; and an attorney for Weis Markets.
Delaware Township engineer Jon Tresslar was among the 25 people gathered for the meeting.
The conditions include a hefty performance bond accepted by Tresslar. The conditions also state a certificate of occupancy will not be granted for the gas pumps at a station until the state permit is provided. It also stipulates that the developer shall try to accommodate the fire department's concerns raised during the Planning Commission meeting. Those concerns were revised after the preliminary approval and after Chris Kimble was appointed township fire chief. They include, for example, outdoor lighting for behind the buildings so emergency responders could see well at night if summoned.
"We're waiting for the executed development agreement and for the performance bond, which we expect soon," Predmore said. "The plan is to start sometime in 2019 and that the project will take nine to 12 months."
The supervisors, after a brief public hearing, unanimously passed amendments to Ordinance 110 zoning and Ordinance 901 definitions by adding Non-Tower Wireless Communications Facilities to the ordinance. The conditional use regulates things such as trailers carrying wireless communications that would be stationed in the right of way. Supervisor Rick Koehler made the motion.
The change comes amid reports that the state is looking ti allow wireless companies greater access to other servicing opportunities apart from the townshiups' scrutiny. " We have taken steps to make sure that dosen't happen without thorough township regulation,"Neufeld said. Supervisors also agreed to a $39,382.25 payment to Mar-Allen Concrete Products Inc. for the Akenac Park Recreation Building's pier repair foundation project. Mar-Allen has been a lead contractor in the Pike County Courthouse Addition project.The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $7,396 to the Pike County Drug Task Force for one year only. It would go toward hiring a county detective on drug enforcement against illegal traffickers. If most townships do not contribute, Delaware Township will get its contribution back. The board accepted the resignation of Robyn Eldred from the township Planning Commission but appointed her to the township's Recreation Committee. The Recreation Committee will move its meetings into the township building for the second Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. starting Jan.10.
Township bulk disposal days for residents discarding certain large items that cannot be picked up in normal garbage disposal to take place on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. That will run from April through October.
During the workshop prior to the regular meeting, supervisors said there was no update on any response from Blue Ridge Communications regarding revisions proposed by the township for the cable franchise agreement that is up for renewal.
Supervisors said they have not yet gotten a response from the National Park Service to their request for the township to be notified when NPS will close the gates to and along Route 209 during inclement weather or an emergency so township officials can notify residents.
Legal Notices
January 16, 2015
The News Eagle
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NOTICE
The Delaware Township Board of Auditors will hold regularly scheduled meetings on the third (3rd) Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. beginning February 21, 2015. These meetings will be held at the Delaware Township Municipal Building(s), located at 116 Wilson Hill Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328.
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Thank you.
Krista Predmore
Township Administrator/Assistant Treasurer
Thomas Farley, Esq.
Township Solicitor