Board Rescinds Check for Ambulance Repairs
by Wayne Witkowski
Pike County Dispatch - Thursday, March 7, 2019
DINGMANS FERRY -- Delaware Township Ambulance Corps' tenuous financial situation became a little more strained for the time being when the township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed at the start of last week's regular meeting to rescind a $4,500 payment to a Milford truck and auto repair shop for one of its ambulances.
The decision came after an executive session at the start of the evening's schedule that included some discussion with ambulance corps Lieutenant Carl Will. At the previous meeting, Will had informed the board that the ambulance corps is $33,000 behind on payments, largely because of a shortage of billable calls.
"We're rescinding payment of $4,500 to Ray's (Truck and Auto Repair) for repairs on an ambulance due to the supervisors' request to have additional information," said board Chairman John Henderson. "We generally try to help out but we cannot do that until we get that information."
The board also is examining alternatives to its strapped ambulance service that operates on a limited schedule.
"Given what's going on, the supervisors will take a look at another ambulance service to suply to Derlaware Township," Henderson said.
Henderson said he relied on ambulance service for his medical problem he had some months ago that needed transportation to the hospital and he recently got a $1,000 bill for it. He said fellow Supervisor Rick Koehler also needed ambulance service for his wife recenty.
"My drive was quick. I waited only 10 minutes," Henderson said, but addded, We've been working with Commonwealth and are still working on it for BLS (Basic Life Support) services (Commonwealth also was reported as having dropped its offer to also cover Advanced Life Support Services.). We're taking trhree steps forward and two steps back. It's not just a Delaware Township situation but also a county and state one, even nationwide."
The board also announced a bond received from the developer of the Delaware Plaza project. Farley said the bond is for more than $4 million. The project, a shopping center anchored by a Weis Markets store, is expected to break ground this spring and be completed some time next year, as announced in a recent Pike County Council of Governments meeting.
The board also tabled awarding a contract for extensive work on the entire length of Doolan Road and a stretch of Park Road from the entrance of Wild Acres to Milford Road/State Route 2001. Two bids were unsealed by township Solicitor Thomas Farley, with Leeward Construction the low bidder at $212,840.80, but the board wants the bids examined further by Farley before going to vote.
A $646,00 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Tranmsporation will go toward that project.
Repairs for the bridges at Childs Park and Log & Twig Road also were discussed in the workshop prior tro the regular meeting. Supervisors also said they will pursue filing a letter on behalf of the township and Dingman Township to PennDOT for sorely needed repair work on Route 739 between Log Tavern Road and Milford Road/State Route 2001.
The board also agreed for township engineer Boucher and James to obtain permits for replacing the fishing dock at Akenac Park. "We have every intention of moving forward on that for this spring," said township Administrator Krista Predmore.
Also at the regular meeting, the board unanimously approved a $2,365.04 workl order from Ray's Truck and Auto Repair for township truck No. 3, mainly replacing a worn clutch. It also approved $1,312.50 to purchase a replacement motor and bearing assembly for the township's municipal building heating system from John Coda & Son Supply Inc. of Sparrow Bush, N.Y.
The board approved a series of requests from Rebecca Gray of the township Recreation Committee, including purchasing supplies for the committee's Easter event next month at Akenac Park not to exceed $750. It also agreed to list two movie nights on the calendar for Akenac Park for July 27 and Aug. 10. They will be held in conjunction with movie nights to be held by Dingmann Township on July 20 and Aug. 17. Koehler, who is a member of the Rec Committee, said the two townships can share the expense, one purchasing a movie and the other the movie sequel, which Koehler said "can draw (many) people from both townships."
The committee also approved changes in the Rec Committee's meeting dates from March 12 to March 14 and from April 9 to April 11 at the township Emergency Management Building. Koehler said applicants are encouraged to fill vacancies on the committee.
Predmore said during the workshop that she is in the process of geting cost figures for a Hazardous Waste Collection Day for the township. "Nobody else does it," she said.
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