© 2003 by Joel Buckley

The Conewago Township Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on July 9, 2003. Some of those present were:

• The Supers:
  John Graybill (chair)
  John Rochat (vice-chair)
  Jay Brandt
• Their trusted Assistants:
  Shirley Bretz (secretary)
  Dolores Kuntz (treasurer)
  Frank Chlebnikow (zoning officer)
  Jon Yost (solicitor)
  Max Schradley (engineer)
• The Reporters:
  Tom (Scoop) Rumpf, The Sun
  Joel (Flash) Buckley, ConewagoOnline
• People with Business:
  Kim Bloom, DTMA
  Paul Gross, Buchart-Horn
  Galen Shelly
• Interested Citizens:
  Rose Sarfert
  Many others
  

• Minutes of June 11, 2003 - Graybill didn't like the way his vote on the May 14 meeting was changed in the minutes at the June 14 meeting. Approval of minutes tabled.
• Treasurer's Report - June 30, 2003
• Expenditure Report - July 9, 2003
• Subdivision/Engineering Fees Report
• Planning Commission Minutes - June 28, 2003

• Joel Buckley complained about big black concrete sewer manholes on Dogwood Drive being a safety hazard, many without flashers or safety cones. Kim Bloom of DTMA says flashers were stolen and they didn't replace them. It was suggested that reflective tape or flourescent paint be used.

• Rose Sarfert didn't like the Salvation Army drop-off bin taking yet another parking space at the township building.

• Property Maintenance Ordinance - nothing done.

• Status Report, DTMA:

• Sewer Construction Status: Kim Bloom reported on sewer construction. Sewer lines have been installed on Azalea and parts of Primrose and Woodbine. Construction then moved to Church Road. The section between Nye and McCorkle is closed during the day for construction. The intention is to get Church done before school starts to avoid problems with school buses. There has been a snag concerning right-of-way. On Dogwood Drive, the sewer was planned to go between two houses (where a road had been planned but never built.) to Messick's field to Round Top. The adjoining property owners say this right of way now belongs to them and they want compensation (maybe free sewer service) for its use.

• Sewer Road Repaving: Paul Gross, from Buchart-Horn, who is DTMA's engineering overseer on the project, came with two letters proposing modifications to the paving specifications. The contract calls for road which is excavated for sewer installation to be paved with a 7 inch asphalt layer. He reports that the existing road in Laurel Woods is sub-standard, with only about 1 1/2 inch of asphalt on it. He proposes that instead of putting 7 inch only on the patch section, that he instead put 3 1/2 inch over the entire road width. This is complicated somewhat by the absence of standard curbs. With standard curbs, you can simply add a couple of inches to the road surface. With the "rolled curbs" in Laurel Woods, any addition has to be tapered at the edges. [Editor's Note: Whether the road surface was sub-standard or not, it had held up reasonably well to local car traffic for 20 years. A few days of use by the heavy construction equipment has resulted in significant damage to the roads.] Church, Nye, and Chestnut have somewhat better road surface. The contactor proposes do a repaving of only half the road surface on these roads.

• Water: Also complicating the repaving is the question of whether public water will be brought into Laurel Woods. It wouldn't make sense to repave the roads after sewer installation if they will be dug up again for water installation. Joel Buckley reported that a survey letter had been sent out. [Editor's Note: see http://www.conewagoonline.com/ts/paw1.pdf]

• Grinder Pumps: There were a number of questions related to grinder pumps. (Grinder pumps are used to make sewage go up-hill.) Some residents wanted to know if they would need grinder pumps, if they could get a better deal through a group purchase (as suggested by maybe the sewer contractor or some plumbers). Kim said that only 8 homes would need grinders, that these people were notified with their lateral letter. There are 2 on Woodbine, 3 on Azalea, 2 on Round Top / Church - none on Chestnut.

• Rates and Regs: Rochat had some questions on special billing situations: multiple dwelling units, do they pay multiple tapping fees, user fees, capital surcharge fees, etc. Kim said DTMA had a 40 page rate and reg book and would get him a copy. [Editors Note: For more information on sewer, see http://www.conewagoonline.com/sewer.htm]

• OLDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - Not much new.

• Update - RETTEW - Jay Zeigler & Shelly Property - This is followup to an oil spill in January. Galen Shelly said that soil samples have been collected for evaluation.

• Dan & Rachel Shearer - Waiver of Land Development - Kevin Ricker, Contractor - it was stated that this building is 75% complete, even though they don't have a building permit-due to unresolved stormwater mangement issues. If they didn't have the paperwork done by Monday, a stop work order should be issued. Some legal action may be taken against them in any case for failure to obtain a permit.

• Mandatory connection ordinance -Yost says a draft should be available for the next meeting.

• HRG Bill - this is for services related to trying to get PennVest financing for the sewer project. Supervisors voted to pay the bill for $7835 for April 26-May 30. Another bill for $2100 has already been received for June.

Remember- Next regular Board of Supervisors Meeting is Wednesday August 13, at 7:30 pm.

That's it - Flash