mAb BE TAR M5 Sat || ue Wh A | HA The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, September 19, 1990 gs Populaton, household figures don't add up By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer Local officials aren't pleased with recently released preliminary census figures that show three Back Mountain communities declining in population and most of the rest gaining only slightly. Using words like “lousy”, “ridicu- lous”, and “laughable” local offi- cials are showing their disappoint- ment with the figures, saying that the figures are just plain wrong. Many local officials say they plan to file an objection with the census bureau. Challenging the Census is difficult % The preliminary. figures have been sent to ‘municipalities for their review. If officials do not agree with the figures they can request that the census bureau look further into the local num- bers. However, time is running out for some of the local govern- ments, which had 15 days to voice their objections from the date they received the preliminary figures. Communities that plan to chal- lenge the count have a tough chore on their hands. Municipal offi- cials will have to count every: housing unit and every street in an effort to find fault with the census. Even if this is done there is no guarantee that the results will change, because only the number of housing units, not the population figures can be chal- lenged. Group quarters and apartment complexes create more difficulties % for those who want to question the > figures. Census (continued from page 1) Kingston Township Manager Jeff Box said although the results sent to the township showed an in- crease of 47 people, township offi- cials are positive there was more growth in population with all the development which: has occurred in the township since 1980. “We used an average of 30 k houses more per year and: the ‘ report indicated 250 units more for the 10years. That doesn’t seem too bad but in one household block unit alone, zoning officer Ben Gorey found 126 dwellings less than there should be,” explained Box. “That ¥ one is a glaring error and there are others that indicate three, four and five units less. There may be others. We will go out and count dwelling units. Box said a municipality loses $7.00 per person for each decrease in population, which in some cases can mean a large ‘bite’ in annual income. The township also receives $12.50 per mile which in Kingston Township's case is 39.5 miles. “Multiply this figure times the $12.50 and it's a sizeable amount each year,” Box explained. Zoning Officer Ben Gorey has had experience working on such projects as the census and has been working on the map and other information received from the Census Bureau. ® Box said according to the in- structions the township received, a municipality must file within 15 working days from the date of receipt of the information. The township plans to file a protest by September 25. Dallas Borough Manager Milt Lutsey said he and the police chief plan to go around the borough and count the dwellings in the commu- nity. “They show only 1,046 housing units in the borough, 53 of them vacant. That is ridiculous espe- cially when we have had building on the increase in the borough during the past 10 years. They show our population down as well Estimates, census figures far apart The preliminary census data conflict markedly with estimates made throughout the 1980's by the Bureau of Census. For instance, this past January the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census released popu- lation estimates for local munici- palities. These numbers estimated that Kingston Township grew con- tinually from 1980 to 1988. The numbers estimated that the town- ship's population grew by up to 735 people in those eight years. However, the 1990 preliminary census figures show that from 1988 to the present the township's popu- lation dropped by 688 people leav- ing it only 47 higher than in 1980. But the census estimate of households shows a growth of 239 in the township in the decade. Jackson Township turned up with the greatest growth of any Back Mountain community, a whopping 2,238 people since 1980. According to the earlier estimates, the township's population had grown from 2,941 in 1980 to 3,610 in 1988. But the early 1990 figures gave Jackson Township a popula- tion of 5,179. The Census shows several Back Mountain communities declining in population. Dallas Township and Dallas Borough had fluctuat- ing populations from 1980-1988. The estimates say that both mu- nicipalities had a rise in popula- tion from 1980-1982, a decline from 1982-1986 and then another increase from 1986-1988. Over- all, both recorded higher popula- tions in 1988 than in 1980. That changed when the 1990 figures were released; according to these numbers the borough lost 180 residents while the township dropped 321. Some other statistics that are considered important in the cen- sus count is the housing units in a municipality. These figures help officials locate mistakes that may have been made in figuring out the census. The number of housing units is another important statistic gath- ered by the Census. According to the preliminary 1990 figures there has been an increase in housing units in both Dallas Borough and Dallas Township yet both munici- palities show a drop in population. Harveys Lake Borough had the opposite result. Preliminary num- bers show that there was a drop in housing units in the last decade; however the population is up by - 377 people. Kingston Township and Lehman Township both show a rise in the number of housing units, but only a small increase in population. In Kingston Township there are 239 more housing units than in 1980 but only 47 more people, while in Lehman Township there are 78 more housing units and only five more people, according to the cen- sus. All Census figures are important The census figures play a major role in government and they should be taken very seriously, according to Howard Grossman, Executive Director of Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsyl- vania. “We should be alarmed at how low these figures are,” said Gross- man. “Once the numbers become official they will be used for the next 10years todetermine alot of things including grants and other funding for municipalities.” The official population count is used to deter- mine state and federal funding for a large number of projects and revenues. Grossman, who lives in Dallas, said that it’s difficult to believe the numbers for the Back Mountain, and feels that area officials should take time to look over their results and do the work to challenge the figures. However, he reminds eve- ryone that these early figures are the preliminary numbers. “The census puts everyone on the defen- sive but we have to work to make sure this area gets the proper count,” said Grossman. He added that other useful infor- mation besides the population count will be useful from the cen- sus. “The demographics are aw- fully crucial for a lot of people,” said Grossman. “There are going tobe a lot of eyes watching for the rest of the year how the census results are coming.” Grossman said that the EDCNP will be one of the groups watching the census results. Local munici- palities will also keep an eye on the figures closely. “There has been strong growth in the Back Moun- tain,” said Jackson Township supervisor Joseph Stager. “I am not sure the numbers coming in for the Back Mountain are accu- rate and they need to be.” Jackson Township was one of the few town- ships in Luzerne County to have a population increase. Grossman said that the EDCNP has made some of its information available to area municipalities that want to look into the census. Some of the more important data is the housing units for the area. “This can help show some of the areas that may have been missed by the census people,” said Grossman. The work with the census fig- ures will continue for the rest of the year and must be presented to President Bush by December 31. Lake planning commission reorganizes By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer The Harveys Lake Planning Commission has a new chairman and vice-chairman after the for- mer chairman was replaced when he was not reappointed to another term. The Harveys Lake Borough Council did not reappoint Joseph Schappert to the planning com- mission at a special meeting last week. Schappert’s term on the board expired earlier this year and the borough council appointed Joseph Kolesar to fill Schappert’s vacancy on the planning commis- sion. This action came after the coun- cilreceived complaints about some of Schappert’s actions while he served on the commission. On Monday night, the planning commission held its first meeting after replacing Schappert. Com- * mission members appointed Wil- liam Gallagher as the new chair- man and Keith Harry as vice-chair- Fall Styles at Clearance Prices! Everything Must Go Including All Hangers & Fixtures! Save Now Through September 29 Daily 10 AM. - 6 P.M. « Sat. 10 AM. -5 P.M. Closed Sunday & Monday Backstreet Fashions women § apparel 139 North Main St., Shavertown, PA 18708 Behind Snowdon's ty S2 —— grrr (4 yr | mn SELL CULLEN PC meee LADIES FASHION BOUTIGVE CLOTHING * AcCessories = GIFTS Simply Us our 2nd Anniversary. Help celebrate man. Also at Monday night's meeting, the planning commission tabled a minor subdivision proposal for Flora Anderson. The proposal was for a subdivision of a lot and some lakefront property along Anderson St. The proposal was tabled until the county's planning commission could look over the plans and make a comment. By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer Even though there have been numerous complaints about the preliminary figures released for the 1990 census, three Back Mountain municipalities show the largest population increases in Luzerne County. Jackson Township, Harveys Lake Borough and Ross Town- ship showed the three highest increases in residents in the county, according to prelimi- nary figures released by the census bureau. ~The preliminary results show that only 20 of the 74 munici- palities in the county had a population increase; sixof those municipalities are in the Back Mountain. Jackson Township showed by far the largest increase. Accord- ing to preliminary figures, the township gained 2,238 residents in the last ten years. Many people question those numbers. In 1980 Jackson Township had a population of 2,941. The 1990 numbers show the population at 5,197. While the increase is very high, one township official feels that there has been growth in the area. “I know that it seems like a big increase,” said Supervisor Joseph Stager, Jr. “But I can honestly say that the township has grown quite a bit in 10 years.” Stager added that there have been a number of major developments added to the township in the last decade. Stager agreed that the pre- liminary numbers are high and he said that township officials are looking into the census numbers. He also said that in Jackson Township's case the numbers may not be wrong in 1990. “I can't say how accurate the last census was,” said Stager. Officials have said that when taking the census in the town- Jackson Twp., Harveys | Lake lead area changes | ship the prisoners at the State Correctional Institution in Dal- las are counted. j Harveys Lake had the second largest population increase in | | the county, growing from 2,310 | in 1980 to its current 2,687; an increase of 377 residents. Borough officials weren'tsur- | prised when they found out they | had one ofthe largest increases. | Council Chairman William | Wilson said that the boroughis | one of the fastest growing areas in the county. E “We've picked up more | people,” said Wilson. “But ifyou | look at the numbers it is not an alarming rate. It really only averages out to about 37 people a year.” ; “We are continuing to grow all the time,” added Wilson. “We looked at some figures earlier this year and noted we were ahead of schedule in growth.” In March, the council applied for state development grants and in doing so, listed the popula- tion and development growth over the years. According to those numbers the borough's | population rose 36 percent and housing increased 108 percent. Wilson noted that he was sat- isfied with the preliminary cen- sus numbers for the borough and said that he did not think the borough would file an objec- tion to the statistics. Ross Township was third in the county for increased popu- lation. The preliminary figures show the township increased by 248residentsfrom2,323in 1980 | to the current 2,571. ; Lake Township also showed a substantial increase. Its popu- lation rose 136 from 1,783 in 1980 to 1,919 in 1990. The other two Back Moun- tain municipalities which had population increases were King- ston Township which went from 6,535 to 6,582 and Lehman Township which increased from 3,030 in 1980 to 3,035. Do you have news for us? Send or bring it to The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612. Or call the office at 675-5211 LOANS Grr A GUARANTEED Rock-Bormoum Frxep RATE ON A Howe Equrry Loan CALL Mercrants Now If you've been thinking about get- Closing costs? Don’t give them a second thought. There are none. * None at all. Best of all, we've not only made our Home Equity Loans easy to afford. We've made them easy ting a Home Equity Loan, now’s / °K the time to do something about it. Because right now, we're offering 0 our lowest rate in months. And with our 90-day “Best 0 APR Rate” guarantee, you come out on top, no matter what happens with interest rates. If rates go up, you get the low rate in effect the day you applied. If rates go down before you close, you get an even lower rate. 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We have to have reasonable proof.” None of the officials could under- stand why the census figures showed an increase of nearly 3,000 over the 1980 census in Jackson Township. But they all agreed there were mistakes made, so many Back Mountain officials will be out count- ing housing units during the next week or 10 days. be to apply for. Just call (717) 826-9756. Call any weekday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Or stop in at any of our conve- niently located offices. But do be sure to act now, while we can still guarantee that you'll get your Home Equity Loan at this rock-bottom rate. RATE GUARANTEED FOR 90 DAYS Stop in Mon., Sept. 24th and receive 20 % off everything in the store gee *#10.4% APR is available on loans of $25,000 or more when pay- ments are automatically deducted from your Merchants Checking Account. Annual Percentage Rate is 10.9% if automatic payment feature is terminated. Other rates and terms are available for smaller loan amounts. 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