Delaware Township To Post New 35 MPH Speed Limit On Child Park Road

Pike County Dispatch, Thursday, March 2, 2017

By Wayne Witkowski

DINGMANS FERRY - Motorists pushing the pedal on Childs Park Road will be warned to slow down as the Delaware Township Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved an ordinance dropping the speed limit to 35 mph.

The road, also known as Park Road, had no posted speed limit until this approval, which followed a brief public hearing that had no question or challenge from the gathering. The new speed limit was determined after an engineering and traffic study conducted by Boucher & James Inc. on Jan. 10. The report stated the road is 20 to 24 feet wide with no shoulders and has some sharp bends with limited visibility.

The board afterward approved $1,600 to buy speed limit signs and materials from Garden State Highway Products Inc., the low bidder from among five companies the township reviewed for the project. The road’s old speed limit had defaulted to the state standard of 55 mph.

It is the second road in the township to mandate a lower speed limit, with an ordinance approved in mid-October dropping the speed to 35 mph on Doolan Road after a traffic study by Boucher & James.

Board Chairman Jeff Scheetz said no other roads are being considered for a lower speed limit.

               Resident Rich Hutchison asked about state police enforcement against speeding on Park Road, a question that also had been raise last fall by other residents when Doolan Road’s lower speed limit was passed.

               “Can I call the state police to sit in my driveway?” Hutchison asked. He was told that police might not be able to be stationed at residences, and police have other spots set aside.

               “Before the “racetrack’ turns, can we have the signs that have the orange diamonds at the top of the sign like you see on some speed limit signs on other roads, notifying drivers of the speed limit,” Hutchinson asked. “I was hit almost four times pulling out of my driveway.”

               Scheetz was open to the suggestion. “It’s just amazing there haven’t been more accidents,” he said.

               Residents also asked if Ordinance 401A banning roadside parking on Park Road-which was passed when the Doolan Road speed limit was set last fall- would be enforced by towing away violating vehicles. Residents said that with Childs Park’s lot full when weather is favorable like it has been lately that some motorists park their cars on the roadside and walk into the park. Scheetz assured the ordinance would be enforced.

               Also, the board tabled the appointment of Tom Ryan to the township’s Planning Commition on request of Supervisor John Henderson, who wanted further discussion. Henderson was absent from the previous meeting and workshop where receipt of Ryan’s letter of interest was discussed.

               Ryan had resigned as a member of the Board of Supervisors in early January so he could pursue retirement plans for himself and his wife, Debbie. Ron Hough also is a member of the Planning Commission.

               Scheetz pointed out there are two vacant positions on the five-member Planning Commission. One position was advertised for letters of interest in October and got no response. Scheetz said that since an article ran in the Pike County Dispatch about Ryan’s letter of interest for one position, there have been five applicants for the positions.

               The board also approved in a 2-1 vote with Henderson dissenting the purchase of paint and materials for the EMA building for $1,058.95 from Home Depot. Henderson said there should be price quotes from other stores before deciding. Township Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Ed Hammond said that purchases under the township’s Home Depot credit card accrue toward future discounts. Township Administrator Krista Predmore said the township has a $200 credit.

               The board unanimously approved Pike County Generator’s $615 estimate to install an Itron second stage regulator that will more evenly feed fuel into the township generator as it is needed.

               Scout Project Proclamation - Also, Cody Daily of Delaware Township Scout Troop 1005 received a proclamation from the supervisors for completion of a project last June 25-26 at Akenac Park in which he laid new mulch along a half-acre of a trail and built a 14-by-18-foot boundary made from railroad ties for a recreation workout area. Dailey said it allows for installation of things like a sit-up bar and a pull-up bar, for example. He also installed three benches. Daily said he was helped by 30 volunteers the first day and 20 the second day.

               His project ended up under his $418 cost estimate and he donated those surplus funds he raised toward township park projects. Dailey was accompanied by his dad, Brad Dailey, and Troop 1005 Eagle Scout Advisor Nicole Herman at the meeting.

               Wesley Witherel, another member of Troop 1005, spoke about his upcoming Eagle Scout Project that includes installing four benches and three bear-proof garage canisters at Akenac Park.

               The board also discussed again at its workshop before the meeting about whether and how it might spend $20,000 surplus of funds budgeted for the Akenac Park playground project after contractor Liberty Parks & Playgrounds Inc. informed the township that it overestimated the cost for the poured-in-place surfacing.

               The discussion focused on a wheelchair apparatus that would include a swing costing $1,225. Predmore said the vast majority of the 30 responders to a township Facebook survey that included 28 from the township and two others from Pike County said they wanted a wheelchair swing. Predmore said, based on the playground design, the wheelchair swing would replace two of the eight existing swings.

               Hough spoke against that idea because he said there already are two handicapped swings.

Predmore said the wheelchair swing could replace the small children swings and said those children can play on the generation swings that can accommodate different ages. She said rubber matting could be placed in that area instead of mulch that could be kicked away and it can be purchased under that surplus.

               “No other park here has that. I like the idea of purchasing something special for our park.” Resident Jane Neufeld said as some other residents shared support of the idea.

               But Scheetz cited Predmore’s report during the discussion that the Delaware School District accommodates only four wheelchair students.

               “I have some doubts it will get much use,” Scheetz said.

               Scheetz also dismissed, after discussion, Predmore’s presentation of a Dr. Pepper/Keep America Beautiful Recycling bin Grant that would supply a dozen bins for Akenac Park.

               The grant would call for pickup of recyclables and Predmore said she had gotten a $50 monthly price quote from one hauler. It also calls for tracking the volume of discarded recyclables.

               Predmore said cans could be set aside and cashed in for money toward a community project. Predmore said, when asked, that there is no contract and that it is a two-year agreement.

               “Who is going to keep track of this and how are we going to monitor this? Some people throw (regular) garage in those cans,” resident Len Glamann said.

               “I don’t sense a groundswell of enthusiasm for this,” Scheetz said.

               Henderson, during the meeting’s public comment period, pointed to a section in the January issue of Pennsylvania Township News that focuses on the theme of public trust and complying with the state Ethics Act.

               He said he learned that an ethics complaint could be filed up to six years after an alleged violation occurred. “The most important thing a supervisor can give to the community is integrity and ethics,” Henderson said.

               The board during its meeting announced spring Electronic Recycling Day takes place 8a.m. to 4 p.pm. on April 1 at the township Bulk Waste Area at 145 Wilson Hill Road at the cost of $10 per car.