CL sare The : vandalized Center Street FR#< in Kingston Township has not vet been repaired because Bivicipa employees haven’t had time. Township administrater Mark Kunkle explained the stop signs and street signs knocked down and removed by vandals last week - have been replaced. These are a common headache for the township and are usually taken care of promptly. The last reported in- cidence of that type of vandalism saw four-way stop signs on Main and Franklin Sts. and Goeringer’s Plot removed. In the playground sky lights were broken, commodes: filled with smashed and fountains destroyed. Damage was estimated at several thousand dollars. Kunkle noted the problem at the playground has also been ongoing. ‘‘We’ve had trouble there for two or three years,” he said. Township police have been keeping a close watch, trying to come up with a suspect, but have been unsuccess- ful. By publicizing the problem, Kunkle said he is making it known that the township is on top of the situation. ‘‘We want those responsible to know that we intend to prosecute to the fullest. We hope to have the repairs made before the start of the summer recreation program. The park is usable now, it just doesn’t look good.” Fighting crime is all in the computer these days and if is continually becoming more of a technological art. With the news Information, Records and Retrieval Center has been taken under the ig of the County Commissioners, .: are that recent advances in local criminal investigation will in- ments even more efficient and responsive. The move, made last week, took the computer base of the 21 municipality commission from the First Eastern Bank Building in Plains, to the County Courthouse. The agency’s name has been changed to The Luzerne County Municipal Police Records Center and costs to participating munici- palities lowered 22 cent to 7 cents per capita. The cost factor, a big incentive for the cooperative effort, is possible because physical plant maintenance and employer salaries are picked up by the County. The computer base was moved to the Courthouse Computer Center and the office placed adjacent to the Communications Center in the courthouse basement. Original commission members are very optimistic about the move. They are anxious to see additional participation under the county umbrella. It is hoped that county law enforcement offices, such as the sheriff, district attorney and probation will begin using the in- formation center. The 36 county police departments not presently members might also be encouraged to sign on, explained Dallas Township Police Chief Carl Miers. The chief has been that municip- ality’s representative on the commission. Miers said the original commiss- ion was disbanded and the County Commissioners are the sole author- ity over the center. An advisory board will be formed to help with this task. 4 -* The commission, formed in 1978, started manual operations the following year. Late in 1981 a computer center was installed which has practically revolu- tionized crime information gather- ing for participating departments. The center has six terminals located in Dallas Township, Swoyersville and the Luzerne County Police Radio Network. It was paid for with Federal grant monies. Miers said the time saved in sharing information through a computer is phenomenal. He noted statistics show that 85 percent of all local erimes solved are committed by county residents. But, more than 60 percent of all criminals are arrested for: crimes outside their immediate jurisdiction. Concerning vehicles, 95 percent of those in- volved in local crime are registered to county residents. Participating police departments store information in the computer and it then becomes available: for use by the others. Miers said the key to the program’s success is the fact that departments now work to- gether to solve crimes. They share information rather than hoard it and the result has been several notable arrests over the last two years. And, he finds the possibilities for expansion limitless. ‘I was hesitant myself in the beginning,” he said. “I questioned whether it could live up to everyone’s expectations. But it’s gone way beyond that. It’s the type of thing today’s law enforce- ment needs because crime itself is $0 mobile.” Under the county structure, Miers feels the computer age can really make inroads in local crime investigation. ‘We've already seen addi;tional interest from other departments and some of the county law enforcement offices are looking at it, too. The only problem now is the lack of participation. It’s the system’s biggest hindrance. But I'm hopeful that will change with the commissioner’s support.” = Harveys Lake residents are being asked to cooperate with local ordi- nances pertaining to appearance and safety in the community, or suffer the consequences. A Brush, Grass and Weed Ordinance, re- cently passed by Council requires property owners to remove, trim or cut all grass, weeds or other vege- tation at least twice a month during May, June, July, August and September. The ruling refers directly to residential and commercial properties, not open acreage or wooded areas. Borough Secretary, Miriam Mitchell, has already sent several letters of warning to property owners not in compliance with the ordinance. She explained she is not immediately coming down 2 on everyone who lets his grass grow too high, but she is taking the action against those who consistently ignore their properties. The war- spections precipitated by com- plaints to the borough office. Absentee property owners are also affected by the ordinance and borough employees will cut those neglected properties at the owner’s expense. Council has also adopted, and is enforcing a littering ordinance. This prohibits all littering, the accumulation of rubbish or gar- bage, and requires businesses to clean up litter from their premises prior to 11 a.m. each day. It further states that businesses and commer- cial properties place disposal cans pearance, for the public's use. Police and borough officials will be on the alert for violators of the local dog ordinance, as well. Police Chief Lionel Bulford said this is a State and Borough law. It requires dogs to be confined by chain, leash or other means to the owner’s current license and failure to comply with the terms of this ordi- nance can result in arrest. planned for the betterment and comfort of the entire community. With the hectic summer season beginning, borough officials are hoping to insure the lake’s reputation as a safe and well kept place to live. The Dallas Township Zoning Hearing Board is expected to render a decision on a Shavertown contractor’s plan to build condo- miniums in the very near future. Zoning officer Len Kozick said he thought the group might meet some time this week to hear transcribed testimony from the board’s May meeting. Action on Joseph Schroeder’s request for a building permit was delayed so that all three members of the board could take part. Two, Carl Goeringer and Thomas Gauntlett were unable to attend the May meeting, leaving “Jay. May and solicitor Frank Townend to conduct the fact fin- ding. Goeringer and Gauntlett will go over the testimony and all three will decide whether or not to allow ‘Schroeder to put his plan into ac- tion. Schroeder, a Shavertown con- tractor, is no stranger to the Zoning Board. This is his second attempt to have a building plan for a five acre plot adjacent to his present ten family complex on Route 309, across from the Country Club apartments. His initial idea called for five-four family homes. This was refused by both the Zoning Hearing Board and Luzerne County Court. His latest idea offers nine condo- miniums, or single family dwellings on the property. He feels the Board is hedging because the idea is a new one in the area. ‘‘If they refuse me, I'll take it to court,” he explained. “Because I'm right. There is nothing on the Zoning books on condominiums.”’ He noted the condo is unique in that the buyer owns his dwelling, but the surrounding land is owned by an association. He also said he has commitments for the sale of three of the proposed units. “People are really interested. They want them.” Kozick said the reason for reject- jon has to do with the amount of ground available. “He doesn’t say how much land each unit will have,” he said. Kozick denied Schroeder a building permit before the matter was brought to the board. In a recent edition, the Dallas Post asked “What is a Clearview Villa?’ and why would anyone want to buy it? On Wednesday, June 2, Fort paid $8,400 to own the packet of land located in the netherlands of Dallas Township. Atty. Gary Taroli who worked the deal for Sterling Industrials said the purchase was made only to straighten boundary lines. Sterling owns about 5000 acres of land in the area and many of the Clearview lots jutted into the acreage. Taroli ex- plained the Clearview purchase will give Sterling’s new land a more uniform appearance, although the company needed only about one half of the property to do so. . “We weren't acquiring the whole thing,” he said. “But under the terms of the sale, we As far as he knows, Sterling has not intention of doing anything with the land. It is considered virtually undevelopable because of its location and the expense involved. The sale took place at the Luzerne County Tax Claims Bureau. An mitted by David Morreale, West Pittston to get the land on the sale calendar. Three parties then engaged in bidding to bring the price to $8,400. Boaters at Harveys Lake will be unable to purchase fuel directly from the water’s edge this summer as the last pump has gone out of ser- vice. Years ago, it was an easy matter to refuel outboard and in- board motors around the lake with pumps available in several strat- egic locations. With inflation and the high cost of gasoline the number of pumps dwindled until there re- mained only one for the last several seasons. Over the winter, this final source of fuel, owned and operated by William Rebeck, was closed. The lack of lakeside pumps could pose a problem for owners of cer- tain types of boats. For example lake resident, A. David Fried ex- plained he has two 13 gallon tanks for his inboard launch. It is not an easy task for him to fill those tanks from pumps located outside the’ lake’s immediate perimeter. Fried feels it will be hazardous, as well as difficult for him to fuel up. He has considered running 3 line from his car to the boat, but procedure. Fried took the problem before Borough Council at its June meeting, but received no satis- faction. When he asked for suggest- ions he was told by Council President Bruce Anderson to ‘‘go into the gas business.” Councilman Joseph Ruotolo, slightly more sympathetic, said he feels the reason all the pumps have been closed has to do with the oil companies refusal to haul small amounts out to the lake. but Nick Arnone, who closed his two pumps in the Sunset area over seven years ago, explained it was simply not economically feasible to < keep them running. “I'd put $500 into them each year and take $450 out,” he said. The boat docking area under the bridge at Sunset presently has about 55 slips for seasonal rental, with more in the planning stages. Arnone noted his empty pumps would definitely be an asset to dock renters but he is not about to be- come involved again. ‘You need someone there full time. It’s not worth it.” So his pumps stand covered with plastic, along with several others around the lake. There is a pump at Javers store, their tanks across the Lake Road. Boaters coming to the lake for the day, can carry gas in their vehicles, but there are certain limitations. Filled gas cans are heavy and once the fuel is gone, so is the fun. Unless someone comes through with a lakeside pump, boaters like Fried, who find it difficult to lug full tanks, or cannot remove them from the launch, have a serious problem to deal with before they can enjoy the pleasures of boating at Harveys Lake this summer.
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