Twp. Reworks Weight Limits on Detour Short-Cuts
By Wayne Witkowski
Pike County Dispatch - 9/7/23
DINGMANS FERRY -- A large gathering that filled the Delaware Township meeting room, some left standing, at the start of the Board of Supervisors meeting before a public hearing, convinced the board members to rework four ordinances for weight and length limits of large vehicles and to table a ratification vote until it's completed.
With many of the gathering wearing work shirts reading Dingmans Ferry Stone and speaking earnestly of their concerns, they convinced the board to adjust exemptions for commercial vehicles of local businesses from restrictions banning them from four local roads.
At the conclusion of the two-hour public hearing, the board quickly passed a motion unanimously to table a vote for the ordinances after some changes were made. The vote will be held at the next regular meeting on Sept. 13.
Instead, the new wording will more specifically allow vehicles making deliveries to the area and of businesses that are located in the area to make deliveries to other areas while using three roads stipulated in three of the ordinances: Myck Road, Chestnut Ridge Road and Johnny Bee/Mary Stuart Road.
A fourth ordinance sets a 24-foot length on trailers traveling Childs Park Road. A local vehicle exemption was added to the original draft of that ordinance on recommendation by resident Steve McBride, who offered a lot of perspective during the public hearing.
The ordinances are in response to an influx of traffic from businesses outside the area taking those four roads to destinations beyond the township rather than following a designated detour route by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation while it repairs a timeworn bridge on State Route 2001/Milford Road just beyond Myck Road. Roadmaster Richard Bailo and the supervisors said the increased heavy truck traffic would take its toll on those roads, which were not designed to endure heavy vehicles.
PennDOT has estimated the bridge project to be completed before December.
The revised drafts of the ordinances were being placed on the township website where members of the public can offer any further changes in emails sent to the township.
Once the ordinances are approved and signage of the limits are posted that will include a line exempting local traffic, supervisors said they were told by the State Police that the bans could be enforced. Township Solicitor Tom Farley said the the township would issue copies of the ordinance to State Police to exempt local traffic over the weight limit but were told by the police they would look to increase local coverage despite being undermanned.
Typically, trucks over 10 tons have been banned from traveling local roads only during the winter season of the first three months of the year.
When local businessman Don McConnell questioned during the hearing whether the State Police have the manpower to enforce the ordinances, Farley said, "The State Police are undermanned. To get anyone out here is a blessing. That's all we have is state police."
Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson said that police "not enforcing detours are hurting our roads" as he pointed to the need to establish enforcement in writing.
"Enforcement, that's the problem," said resident Tom Pallozzi during the hearing. "We're trying to fix the problem after the fact."
"Once it get out on the (truck broadcast) radio, those truckers will stop," said Supervisor Rick Koehler.
Some residents questioned whether police would be able to sift through those exemptions while making a traffic stop, saying they anticipated receiving many citations.
"We're not trying to prohibit local use by local businesses or for deliveries to local people but it's for (banning) individuals using it as a short cut (for routes going elsewhere)," said Farley, who said during the hearing. "Working with our local residents is the key."
David Jones, formerly the owner of Kittatinny Canoes, said, "I don't think you need this ordinance when the bridge is done," saying the ordinances need a "closer clause."
Henderson was unable to establish, when asked by the Pike County Dispatch during the hearing, whether those ordinances might be repealed after the bridge work is complete. "We'll leave that up to our engineers," he said.
Farley asked for civility at the start of the meeting while explaining the ordinances but one local businessman called the ordinances a "knee jerk reaction," although Farley explained said in response and repeatedly during the hearing that the ordinances are intended for the best interests of local residents and locally-run businesses.
He said that local attorney Jim Baron has consulted with him pro bono and Baron voiced support of the ordinances during the hearing.
"All I want to know is where does local traffic start and stop," pressed Steve Tarquini repeatedly.
"If they (businesses) are doing something inside the township, they can use the roads," said Farley.
Tarquini asked what if those trucks are using those roads to get to jobs outside the township. Farley said if the business is located in the township, it is exempt.
He later said the local traffic stipulation would cover residents of Delaware Township and Dingmans Ferry.
Also at the meeting, supervisors approved installing an alarm system in the Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society Museum building at Akenac Park by First Alarm for $410. Supervisors during the workshop before the regular meeting rejected historical society president Tim Singleton's proposal for another installer that would cost about $900 more. They also approved the purchase of painting equipment and paint in an amount not to exceed $1,250.00 for the museum building.
They also approved the fiscal year 2024 budget workshops on Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 and 25.
Approvals were made for Supervisors Joe Dunne, Rick Koehler and Henderson will attend the PSATS virtual class “Developing Your Township Budget” on Sept. 12 for $207 and for Bailo and Daniel Bellino will attend free LTAP Winter Maintenance training on Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency.
Matt Light was reimbursed $150 for attending Emergency Management Training –G 191 ICS EOC Interface.
A motion to approve removal of the Delaware Township Emergency Management Building land line with Verizon at the end of the contract was tabled, pending further study and discussion. Dunne said that land line communication could be vital in emergencies when Internet service is disrupted.
During the workshop, supervisors discussed setting aside planned repair of Mary Stuart Road for a later time. "It's the lowest priority. We have other roads where we have to spend money," said Henderson, who declined further discussion on the subject.
Also discussed was refurbishing the Akenac Park tennis courts with some remaining grant money. "It seems $55,000 is a lot of money for repairing tennis courts," said Henderson. "They (tennis courts) get little usage when I surveyed other courts."
Township Administrator Krista Predmore said funding from an approved Loan Share Account (state casino gaming) can cover the cost. Predmore said, "I understand they recently dropped the requirement of match funding, which would only cover half of the expense, but now can cove the whole amount."
"That money can be used for different purposes," said Henderson.
Refurbishing the tennis courts will also allow for playing pickle ball, the newest outdoor sports trend.