The minutes of the regular July 7 meeting and the special July 17 meeting were approved.
The treasurer's report was approved with these balances: general checking, $56,983.28; state fund checking, $148,573.01; Act 13 checking, $2,855.60; Act 13 money market, $1,039,530.93; general money market, $52,429. 17; Capital Fund CD, $121,243.87
Receipts included: Act 13 funds for 2014, $419,565.57; real estate transfer tax, $264.60; Keystone Collections, $670.18; Tioga County Tax Claim bureau, $157.94; Tioga County real estate tax, $4,430.17; Pine Hill (donation), $140.21.
The township reimbursed the liquid fuels account for $52.50 and the Act 13 account was reimbursed $2,888.13 for 1B stone.
Bills paid include $240 to Violet Learn for mowing the McIntosh Cemetery; $27,000 to Jennings Construction for the first installment on the cinder building; $39.50 from Canton Township as half the cost of Excel training for the township Secretary; $1,680.45 to American Rock Salt; $1,880.31 to Williams Oil; $625 to William Bray, engineer.
The township's revisions to the Floodplain Ordinance have brought it into compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
Talisman Energy has given notice of intention to commence Natural Gas Well Drilling operations at Olson k8H in Hamilton Township; and also intent for consumptive use at DCNR 587 Pads 003 and 019 in Ward Township.
Minutes from the North Central Sewage Agency were received.
Applications are due for the Conservation District's low-volume road program. The township will submit proposals for Lower Mountain Road.
The Conservation District will construct two to four small stream projects under the Storm Protection cost-share program.
No local permits were issued in the previous month. It was noted that structures under 1,000 square feet and not attached to an existing structure require a township assessment permit. If attached or if larger, structures will need a Code Inspections permit. Floodplain permits are required in all cases. If the structure is not in a floodplain the fee is $10; if in the floodplain, $50, plus foundation permit fee.
Mr. Sheaffer and Mr. Tompkins will attend the Tioga County Municipal officials convention at Whitneyville on September 12. Former Secretary Carol Morgan said this meeting is "worthwhile" and is a source of "lots of very good information."
The Tioga County Commissioners will meet at Ward township on August 25. This is part of their effort to meet in the various municipalities in Tioga County..
A sluice pipe separated and collapsed near Pine Lodge, necessitating the closing of Brown Road from its intersection with Church Road to Rundell Creek Road. In order to accommodate the Pine Lodge Picnic, the blocks used to close the road will be relocated. Webster Consulting Engineer will give a proposal and a meeting will be held with the Conservation District to see what course of action should be taken.
Also, containment block at Twin Sluices collapsed, forcing the closure of Twin Sluice Road at its intersection with River Road to the DCNR Road. Mr Sheaffer said the pipe is good but the containment block must be redone. Given the expense of repair and the position of the area of collapse, it may be more practical to abandon that section, which would then revert to DCNR.
Southwest Energy is paying for work at the water plant for the acid mine run off at South Fall Brook. This is at no cost to the township. The Tioga County Concerns Citizens Committee has cleared brush from the area.
Mr. Seachrist gave the road report. Chase Hill, Rundell Creek, Brown, Furman, Gleason and Mountain Ridge Roads were graded. Twin Sluices Road was closed down for repairs. Brush was cut and ditches cleaned along several roads.
Eighteen loads of gravel were taken to River Road and 22 loads to Welsh Mountain Road.
Potholes were filled on Dorsey Road and Gleason Road.
Lime was taken to the TCCCC site on Fall Brook.
Mr. Tompkins said he was in the process of investigating rollers and will report the information to the other Supervisors.
William S. Bray, P.E. prepared an evaluation of Old Possessions Road and a conceptual opinion for the cost to bring the road into condition. Total construction costs are projected to be $1,251,140, including clearing to remove vegetation, widening the cartway from its present 16 feet to 22 feet, cross-drains, guide rails, stone-lined ditches, driveways and road adjustments, gravel base and base repair, a new driving surface, seed and mulch and erosion and sediment controls. Other costs, such as inspection, engineering, surveys, legal work, and rights-of-way agreements would make the total cost of the Old Possessions Road project, $1,732,828.
The Supervisors stressed that these numbers are just an evaluation and are not a design.
Ron Powley said that unless the ditches were cleaned, runoff would destroy the road. Ron Gleckner suggested that the Supervisors contact the District Forester to obtain permission to clean the ditches. Mr. Sheaffer said DCNR already had given permission, but private landowners have not been contacted.
The Supervisors said they would contact the private landowners whose lots abut Old Possessions Road concerning the right-of-way agreements.
Mr. Gleckner asked the Supervisors, "Where are you going to get this money [to fix Old Possessions]?"
Mr. Tompkins asked if the road was better cared for when it was a Forestry road, and most of the respondents said that it was. Mr. Tompkins said, "If you are not satisfied with our ability to take care of the road, do you want it to go back to forestry?" Many said "yes," so the Supervisors said they would look into procedures to vacate a road.
Maxine Shedden and Gene Segur reported on the Act 13 Advisory Committee, which met earlier in the day. They noted that the oiled roads have held up well and said more oil was needed next year. They also asked about road salt, which worked well on R & E Machmer Road. They asked about Old Possessions Road, River Road and Mile Hill Road, and the closure of Pine Lodge and Twin Sluices. Church Road will be reclaimed all the way to Brown Road, with tar and chip next year. The committee asked if subcontractors could be used for small jobs to free up the road crew for major jobs. They also asked about the cinder building, if the a CDL license will be required for the new dump truck. Their final concern was about the sluice pipe bridge at Church Road, which has some erosion on either side.
The committee thanked the Supervisors for their service. "We find fault and are fussy," Mr. Segur said, "but we know it takes a lot to get it done. The committee thanks you, but will keep hammering you," he laughed.