OAK GROVE — The Pine Grove Township board of supervisors faced concerns about winter maintenance at its Jan. 14 meeting.
John Schaeffer and Salem Potts represented more than a dozen families who reside in Pine Crest Village. They said the current owner, Phillip Riehl, had plowed the roads last winter, but he is no longer claiming ownership of the roads where homes are built, only the ones in the undeveloped section.
Schaeffer questioned what the residents would do if there’s an emergency and the 200 to 300 feet of road that is not plowed is impassable.
Potts said there had been other parties interested in buying the development when it was up for sale, but they couldn’t get information from the township. However, he said the roads should go with the sale of the property.
Chairwoman Diane Tobin assured the men that the board would look into it. Although solicitor Gino DiNicola said it was the first he was aware of the problem, plowing the roads in a development is typically the developer’s responsibility. He added that some deeds would need to be pulled and some plans looked at to determine what was purchased. According to Schaeffer, the owner said he had only bought the part of the development that was undeveloped.
“We all agree, the township doesn’t own the road and can’t perform winter maintenance,” Supervisor Jeff Zimmerman said.
Pipeline
Washington Township resident Leah Zerbe asked whether the attorney looked at the ordinance she had provided covering the proposed Atlantic Sun gas pipeline.
According to DiNicola, he did look at it but was not recommending the township pass a resolution or ordinance.
Zerbe said many residents are expected to come to February’s meeting.
However, Supervisor Bruce Kosack reminded Zerbe that she was in attendance at the same meeting he was when the supervisors were told local, county and state government cannot rule on the pipeline.
“It’s a federal line,” he said, adding there are nearly 5,000 residents in the township and some people support it.
DiNicola explained that the resolution Zerbe provided from Londonderry Township doesn’t say the township is opposed to the pipeline. It just tells the public they have a right to intervene.
Zerbe questioned the board on whether they would pass a resolution.
“We’ve been advised not to and we follow his advice,” Tobin said.
“Your attorney can overrule what the residents want?” Zerbe asked.
Although nobody answered her question, Kosack said he’s been told people have been pressured into signing a petition against the pipeline.
Leann Adams, Pine Grove Township, accompanied Zerbe and provided a list of questions that she requested the supervisors ask Williams Companies Inc., who is constructing the pipeline, when they met with them.
In other business
Zimmerman said since the new flood plain map came out in November 2014, lien holders are notifying property owners in a floodplain that flood insurance must be purchased. In some cases, the buildings are not in a flood area. He commended the township’s floodplain administrator, Dan Bode, for the assistance he is giving to residents who have to get an engineer to provide a certificate of validation so the costly insurance is not required.
“(The) administrator is doing an excellent job,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman also commended the road crew for the good job they have been doing to keep the township roads clear of snow.
Real estate tax
After nearly 15 years, DiNicola said the board is considering enacting a real estate tax. He recommended the board dedicate one or two meetings this year to fully inform the public of the board’s consideration so residents can budget for it.
At budget time, the supervisors would pass a resolution stating the taxes that will be enacted, but since it would be the board’s first year, DiNicola suggested an ordinance be passed instead.