| BRIGCH Jia EXCH VOL. 88 NO. 35 What are the water resources in the Back Mountain? Can the wells of the approximately 20 private companies including the Dallas-Shavertown Water Company adequately supply the continued development, or within the near future will it be necessary to find another solution? Rep. Frank O’Connell believes the solution to providing water service to a fast-growing Back Mountain area is the creation of a water authority with a merger into one large source of supply. He believes that expansion is threatening the water resources of the Back Mountain; that the munici- palities are reaching the time when they can no longer depend on wells but will need a reservoir. The state representative pointed out the Cross Valley expressway pre- sently under construction can be a major factor in creating accessibility and development to the local com- munities. but that they will be penalized because of inadequate water supply. O’Connell said, however, that it is a matter which must be dealt with by the Back Mountain municipalities and somebody in elected leadership will need to take the initiative. He stated that if all were in agreement today that an authority was the answer to adequate water service in the Back Mountain, it would take four to five years before it would be in operation. O’Connell referred to the City of Hazleton where there is a water short- age. He indicated that trailers are pulling water from Huntsville Dam every day in order to provide water for that city. He stated that the water table is falling constantly and continuously and that the only solution is a water authority. Herbert Hill, Kingston Township supervisor, disagrees with O'Connell, at least as far as Kingston Township is concerned. Hill stated that the town- ship has had its own measurement of the local water table. He said that their engineer took the measure of the table five years ago and again this year and it has not dropped as much as six inches. “A water authority is not probably because of the cost. Too many of the older people couldn't possibly afford companies, it would cost close to a million dollars to install new lines,” said Hill. Hill said that there are about 15 companies in Kingston Township. He agreed that a water authority was a good concept but said he is against it because of the expense. Neither does he believe that there is insufficient water supply to curtail development. He said that at a meeting held in the township not too long ago, officials of the water company stated that they had plenty of water for a new develop- ment for which plans had been sub- mitted. Hill does believe that the piping is inadequate. Some of the lines are old and 30 or 40 new homes have been built on lines which were installed to service only a few. Kingston Township Manager Mike Stanley said that the cost of an authority would be prohibitive and that the property owner is the one who would suffer. He said that in most water supply problems in the town- ship were due to a mechanical failure. Stanley stated that sometime in the distant future, an authority might be a matter for conseration but that he is not knowledgeable enough about it to comment at the present time. Leonard Venable, manager of the Dallas-Shavertown Water Company, believes that a water authority is necessary for the Back Mountain. He said that he brought it up once at a municipal meeting and the reaction was enough to cause him to drop it. Venable is bringing in a ground water engineer to do a feasibility NEW PUMP--Leonard Venable, manager of Dallas- Shavertown Water Company, looks on as employees of Cresswell Drilling Company puts in the pines and installs the new pump at the Country Club Road pumping station. (Photo by Charlot M. Denmon) x study on all of the Dallas-Shavertown Water Co. wells to determine their capacity now and anticipated capa- city five to 10 years from now. He said that there are 20 private water companies in the Back Mountain area. He thinks that the municipalities should get together and discuss the purchase of the companies. Venable believes that there is an interest on the part of the companies to sell due to the govern- mental restrictions and maintenance costs. He recommended that the issue be explored and discussed among.the local municipalities. They could even investigate possibilities of state or federal funding he suggested. Venable also said that reservoirs are the answer to increased water supply. He referred to Harveys Lake and Huntsville Dam as two sources. “At least they are a start,” he said. ‘Surface water is the best supply.” He indicated that the authority should be operated by one central agency similar to the present operation by his company. He also said that his company is open for discussion and negotiation as the central agency. ! “The growth potential of the Back Mountain is not in the future,” said Venable. ‘It is here-now is the time to think about the solutions for increased development. Developers come to me now with questions about the water situation. Now is the time to arrive at (Continued on P. 3) Lehman Township police raided the residence of Keith A. Schubert, RD 2, Hunlock Creek, the morning of Sept. 15 and confiscated 200 suspected marijuana plants with the street value at maturity estimated at $2,850. Chief Willard Russell reported that the plants were growing in the back yard and Assistant chief William Goodwin and Patrolman Thomas Kane gathered those along with paraphernalia such as pipes, maijuana, and unplanted seeds in the house. The plants were turned over to the Pennsylvania State Police at Wyoming for analysis. Warrants will be issued when tests are completed at the state police laboratory, Chief Russell indicated. The raid marked the second in Lehman Townsdhip in less than two weeks. It was decided at the September meeting of the Kingston Township Supervisors that the township police force will become members of the Luzerne County Police Retreival Systems, a computerized service offered to the 67 municipalities in Luzene County. Any crime committed in the county will be recorded on tape and kept at the court house. If information on any previous crime is needed, township police will be able to receive it within minutes by calling the court house. An initial charge is required and is determined according to the population of the township. Kingston Township's fee would be 3.1 per cent of the $50,000 needed to initiate the program. At present this would be approximately $15,000. However, as more municipalities join, the fee will be reduced. There is no yearly charge Pump failure drops pressure of Dallas water Leonard Venable, manager of the Dallas-Shavertown Water Company, reported on Tuesday that approximately 200 Dallas area families were affected on Monday and Tuesday by the breakdown at the pumping station located near the Irem Temple Country Club. Venable said that the pump failure occurred early Monday morning and that company engineers and employees worked all night and all of Tuesday to correct the problem. A new pump was installed and new piping put into the well and barring inclement weather, Venable expected the service to be completely restored by late Tuesday. While the pump was down, water company employees took advantage of the opportunity to clean out the reservoirs. Low water pressure was experienced by residents from the intersection of Route 309 and Memorial Highway all the way out - Sl thereafter. Program will go into effect in 1978. An ordinance will be advertised to add '» per cent to the earned income tax for township residents. This will begin in January 1978 and ‘‘continue every taxible year thereafter’. Home Rule enables Kingston Township to raise the earned income tax from 1 per cent which is equally shared with the school district. This added per cent will benefit only Kingston Township. of the Powderhorn Estates, Dallas Borough Tuesday night meeting that all the installations were completed on the property and that the only thing needed to be done was the surfacing of the road as required by council. Ralph Garris, council secretary, confirmed Jones statement and said that the borough'engineer also was in agreement with the specifications for the new section of the development. Jones indicated that he is putting in a six-inch base and fine grading now and the top paving will be done in the spring. He asked when the council would issue permits to prospective builders. Dallas Borough Solicitor Charles Lemmond told Davis the permits may be issued any time after the $6,250 for road paving is put in escrow. Lemmond recommended to council that they appoint a committee in charge of the abandoned Dallas school demolition grant so they can follow through on the time table of things to be done following the demolition. Garris reported that the borough’s creek cleaning and widening project was completed. Z A request by residents of Orchard West kto have lines and hydrant TWENTY CENTS DALLAS CHAMPS--Jean Johnson, Lex Hall, and Rena Rothschild led the Dallas Women of Rotary to victory in Sunday’s All-Star game. See P. 13. system | In regards to a request for a delayed traffic light at the intersection of East Center Street and Route 309, a letter from PennDOT informed the supervisors that a traffic count is required before any action can be taken Rae A lease for the mini-park off Carverton Road was taken with the join info to join inf A question arose concerning paving Glenview Avenue which is located partially in Dallas Township and partially in Kingston Township. Supervisors discussed who would make improvements on the road and how they would be reimbursed. Supervisor Willard Piatt suggested holding plans in abeyance until something is more permanently Pennslvania Department of arranged between the two Highways. Rental costs are $1 per municipalities. year for a period of five years. Violent crash A? installed on Newberry Estates to provide fire fighting facilities was turned down since the council did not One liners 1 want to establish a precedent of installing lines on private property. They agreed that they would install a hydrant on their right-of-way if the Newberry Estates wanted to run lines to that point. Following discussion the council requested that the fire company do a survey of lines throughout Dallas Borough and submit a report to the council. Pete Arnaud, councilman, recommended that members of the Dallas Fire and Ambulance approach Dallas Township superyisors and ask them to share some of the company’s expense involved in the housing of its equipment since the fire and ambulance serves approximately 95 per cent of the township as well as the borough. The fire company is expecting the arrival of its new truck and will have to renovate its existing structure in order to house it. James B. Davis III, representing the Dallas Fire and Ambulance, indicated to council that he would relay the request to the company’s officers. The meeting was adjourned to Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. for general purposes. wp. ft Need help? pr Recipes wp. 14 Free want ads ...p.18 |
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