L Vol. 116 No. 12 & Early mentor delights in Matt Dragon's success. The Back Mountain's Newspaper Since 1889 March 20 to March 26, 2005 POST . SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Flood study makes modest recommendations Only two of eight scenarios meet a benefit/cost standard. By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff A study of flooding in the Toby's Creek watershed lays out modest goals for protection of homes and businesses that might be affected by high water. Out of eight possible projects — from building levees to rerouting the channel — only two achieve a benefit to cost ratio greater than 1, implying that they are economically justified according to the study parameters. Those are enlarging the bridge over at Fernbrook and removing a historic stone-arch bridge near Pizza Perfect in Trucksville. The easiest and most economical recommendation is that the three affected municipalities — Dallas Borough, Dallas Township and Kingston Township — enforce existing: limits on construction in the flood plain, keep stream beds clear of over- growth and debris, remove obstruc- tions at culverts and bridges and repair and maintain stream banks to prevent erosion. The “flood protection feasibility study” was conducted by Gannett Fleming Inec., from mid-2003 to Dec. 2004. The state Legislature authorized an outlay of $150,000 for a study in 1988, but the money wasn’t released until 2002. The firm’s analysis projects that 115 buildings would suffer some damage during a 500-year flood — that is one with the probability of occurring once in a 500-year period. The remediation measures outlined in the study report are focused on those areas. Costly and extensive projects, such as building levees or flood walls, or rerouting the creek below Dallas Borough, failed to provide benefits equal to their annual expense. For See STUDY, Page 3 FLOODING STUDY PRESENTATION A representative of Gannett Fleming Inc., the firm that conducted a study of flooding along Toby's Creek and its tributaries, will explain the findings - and answer questions at a public meeting Wednesday, March 23, at the Kingston Township Municipal Bldg., 180 E. Center St., Shavertown, start- ing at 7 p.m. Representatives of DEP and the state Department of General Services are also expected to attend. At last, relief may be coming to Meadowcrest Bids will soon be solicited for work to end flooding in the development. By GAVIN ROBB Post Intern TRUCKSVILLE — The wait may be over for residents of Meadowcrest who have been plagued by storm water runoff from a nearby development. For years, they have had to fend for themselves with makeshift walls and trenches while waiting for the township to permanently eliminate the flows, which have flooded base- ments and created dangerous sinkholes in back yards. According to Township Manager Eddie O’Neill, plans to reroute the runoff are finally underway following a March 9 meeting in which the township supervisors authorized an addi- tional length of piping and the solicitation of bids from con- tractors to do the work. See RELIEF, Page 2 FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Could we see some real ones, please? Barbara Kirschner, Sweet Valley, paints and sells these wooden tulips hand sawed by her husband. She was one of the vendors at the Lake-Lehman Band Sponsors craft show last weekend. More photos on page 2. Grant funds in question should arrive by April With $120,000, the township will address flooding in Kunkle and rewrite zoning rules. By CAMILLE FIOTI Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. — Township Engineer Thomas Doughton announced at the March 15 supervi- sors meeting that money from a feder- al grant, which will be used to finance two eagerly awaited projects, should arrive in April. At the March 1 meeting, Doughton said the grant, administered by the Luzerne County Office of Community Development, was in jeopardy if President Bush’s proposed 2006 budg- et is passed. The budget would consol- idate 18 programs, including commu- nity development grants, that received approximately $16 billion in funding in 2005 and replace them with a $3.7 bil- lion “Strengthening America’s Communities” program. The township was approved for $120,000, of which $80,000 would be used in flood control efforts in the area of the Kunkle fire station, and $40,000 to rewrite the township’s 40-year-old zoning ordinances. Communities were able to apply for the grant every three years, and the amount awarded depends on the income of residents in the area. In a continuation of the debate over the proposed Saddle Ridge subdivi- sion, the supervisors agreed to draft a proposed ordinance revision requiring road grades to be 9 percent or less, with exceptional circumstances allow- ing up to 11 percent for no more than 200 feet. Doughton said that he reviewed ordinances from surrounding communities, and Dallas Township has the lowest grade restrictions, cur- rently 7 percent. Speaking on behalf of developer See GRANT, Page 3 Township sees traffic signal in its future By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff KINGSTON TWP. — At their March meeting, the supervisors agreed to take responsibility for maintaining a traffic light that PennDOT intends to install at the intersection of Carverton Road and Manor Drive. But the bills won't be arriving soon. PennDOT officials told the township that bids for installation are scheduled to go out in fall 2006, with construction sometime in 2007. The police department is operating at two officers less than full staffing, until a replacement is found for Benjamin Bigus, who left to attend the State Police Academy. His resignation letter was read at the March 9 meeting. Bigus’ last day was March 2. He had worked for the township about three years, said Chief James Balavage, and had been trying for some time to obtain an appoint- ment to the academy. Officer Franklin Buckler has been inactive for just over a year, recovering from a stroke suf- fered while on duty. Balavage said it is uncertain if or when he will return. The vacancies leave the department with eight full- time officers, including Balavage. To cover, Sergeant Michael Moravec has been working regular patrol shifts, as has officer Frank Ziegler, who is the D.A.R.E. officer. Other officers have been working overtime, Balavage See SIGNAL, Page 3 Soaring science Andy Judge admires his Division C cruiser that floated around the gymnasium at the Notheast Regional Science Olympiad, held March 10 at the Penn State Campus in Lehman. More photos and local results on page 9. FOR THE POST/ CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Lake tries again to get approval for new hookups Meters, tiny cameras being used to pinpoint improper inflows into the sewer sanitary system. By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff HARVEYS LAKE — The Municipal Authority is making progress in efforts to eliminate sewage overflows during heavy rainfalls. Portable meters are being used to measure fluctuations in the flow in main lines around the lake, said Richard Boice, executive director. They are placed in problem areas and produce a picture of the flow rates over a 24-hour period. “These things can graph the flow out,” Boice said, giving a good indica- tion if there are leaks or output from illegal sump pumps. A good portion of the excess flow has been blamed on pumps that send water from base- ments into the sanitary sewer lines. The meters are used at manholes, which can be several hundred feet apart. Once a problem is detected, miniature cameras are dropped into the line, and they can be maneuvered to the exact point of the inflow. Last month, the authority resubmit- See HOOKUPS, Page 2 ¥ Inside The Post Some are just too big to keep. J 12 Pages, 1 Section Calendar ......s vied 12 Church. ... i.e... . 11 Crossword... tua, 8 Editorials... ..o aia i. 4 Obituaries... ... v0. 5 SCHOO). i ae vara 9-10 SPOFIS i Jules eneioies 7-8 V¥ How To Reach Us News: 675-5211 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 Advertising: 829-7101 Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000
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