Township Approved Budget, No Tax Increase!
By Wayne Witkowski
The Pike County Dispatch - December 15, 2022
DINGMANS FERRY -- Delaware Township supervisors at their regular meeting on Wednesday last week unanimously approved, without discussion, a budget that will hold taxes for a sixth straight year.
But that wasn't the main issue attracting a dozen residents as they sat through the brief meeting of agenda items.
They were awaiting the Public Comment segment ending the meeting to express their concern about Met-Ed's conspicuous silence regarding the proposed Shawnee-Walker 69-kilovolt Transmission Line project. It's an auxiliary power line built on right-of-way next to many homes to improve electric service reliability for approximately 13,600 residents involved in Monroe and Pike counties and to mitigate power outages largely caused by adverse weather.
It would extend through Lehman Township but supervisors there have not voiced objection because the route traverses non-residential areas and along Bushkill Falls Road through state game lands.
Yvonne Tetta started the discussion when she said she had not heard anything about the project from Met-Ed since she was first notified in early summer. The notification said that Met-Ed would send representatives to homes to explain the project to homeowners affected.
"That's a dead issue," said Supervisor Jane Neufeld of the visits.
Tetta said the line runs on a right of way that would go next to her house. She said her research shows that living near the power line can lead to serious illness.
Tetta pressed the supervisors about their position.
"We're totally against this because it's going through Akenac (Park)," said Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson.
Another resident asked the supervisors if they (the township) are getting paid by Met-Ed for permission and Henderson said they are not.
He said the board had sent a letter to Met-Ed when the project was made public to request a meeting to discuss the project but did not get a response. He and his fellow supevisors agreed to send another letter requesting a meeting.
Supervisors also sent an email the following morning about the project to Mike Mrozinski, director of Pike County Office of Community Planning.
"They (Delaware Township) are trying to get a representative to Pike County to explain this; their (Met-Ed's) idea is to provide a website to walk you through the whole project and for people to comment on the website and not for them (Met-Ed reps) to e to Pike County," said Mrozinski to the Dispatch that day. "They don't want to confront these people."
Copies of the first supervisors' letter sent on July 20,which establishes Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission LLC commandeering the project, were distributed by township Administrator Krista Predmore to residents.
Part of the letter reads, "We believe this project will have a negative impact on property values, plants, animals and water resources, recreation and the overall rural character of our township. Additionally, there are health concerns that are directly linked to stray voltage and magnetic fields near the wire, which could affect property values and anyone visiting the township's park.
"It is the township's goal to conserve, maintain and enhance the historical, cultural and environmental resources in our township and the proposed project does not align with those goals."
A few residents, along with Tetta, expressed similar sentiments.
"You could hear the wires," said resident Gary Evans of the electromagnetic hum. He and other residents cautioned that the project would move forward even if residents object and those dissenters could be forced out by eminent domain.
"There are multiple people (objecting to the project). You have a lot more power than you think," said Henderson, who also cautioned, "We need to run on evidence, not rumor."
Township Solicitor Tom Farley assured the gathering that the project has to run through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which ensures reliable, safe, secure and economically efficient energy for consumers at a reasonable cost.
As for the earlier part of the meeting, Neufeld said during the workshop the 2023 township budget has "no change in revenue" from when it was unveiled on Nov. 16 but said there is "a matter of overestimations (of expenses). Expenses decreased by $35,000.
Neufeld said the latest Blue Ridge franchise agreement for cable TV (not Internet service) calls for $8,900 quarterly, $35,600 annually under the latest five-year agreement.
The 2023 township budget remains at 11.868 mills. The General Fund holds at 8.68 mills.The Recreation tax and Fire tax for the township Volunteer Fire Company both will stay at 1.5 mills, each drawing $153,000. The Park and Recreation budget is $167,155.00.
The estimated unallocated balance moved forward will be $38,500. State Liquid Fuels tax is $570,515.46
Motions were passed for the budget and for the resolution for levy of taxes for 2023.
Supervisors approved Kirk Summa & Co LLP management letter for the 2022 independent audit.
They approved advertising for a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission on the Iron Body Fitness Land Development and Conditional Use for 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 11. It's a $6,000-square-foot gym on the lot next to Dollar General on Route 739.
A 2023 lawn mowing contract to Wayne’s Lawn Care for $30,740 was awarded, a "slight increase" from the previous budget, said Neufeld.
A Dependable Cleaning Co., Inc.’s quote on the municipal hall tile floor for $600 was approved.
Delaware Township Bulk Days were set forth for 2023. They will be held on the first Fridays of the first three months -- Jan. 7, Feb. 4 and March 4, will be held the first and third Fridays on April through October and then be held only the first Friday of November and December.
Also approved was the 2023 goose control proposal by Geese Police at $415 per week, along with a $100 addling charge per nest.
Supervisors approved $350 toward the employee Christmas party.
A $250 donation from the Dingmans Bridge to the Recreation Commission to be used toward the annual holiday event on Dec. 10 at Akenac Park was approved.
Akenac Park use requests by Delaware Township Recreation and those event budgets for 2023 were approved. They include April 2, Easter Event ($1,000), July 15 – Summer Event ($1,000), Aug. 26 - Summer Event ($1,000), Sept. 16 – Harvest Festival ($2,000), Oct. 28 – Trunk or Treat ($1,000), Dec. 9 – Christmas Event ($1,000).
During Public Comment, resident Steve Tarquini expressed his concerns about detonations of an explosive that lit up the night skies and made loud sounds heard throughout neighborhoods. "I know of at least seven times (it happened)," said Tarquini as he and Koehler agreed that it was bigger than fireworks. Koehler agreed that he saw the sky lit up while driving one evening.
Supervisors cancelled their final regular meeting and workshop that was scheduled for Dec. 21.