Ee SE
Sunday, December 13, 2009
THE DALLAS POST
PAGE 3
DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Future of township building to be determined
“It is a durable building. Although the roof does
leak, it is not sagging. You have something to work
By EILEEN GODIN
Dallas Post Correspondent
1
Opening its doors in 1924, the
Dallas Township School build-
ing has seen many students
make the grade. Now, the build-
ing itself must pass a structural
test. The building’s future is be-
ing determined by the sound-
ness of its “bones.”
School board members have
been kicking around ideas about
the fate of the former school
building. Some ideas on the ta-
ble are first to determine the
feasibility of renovating it, then
leasing it with the option of
buying it back if room for ex-
pansion is needed, selling it, or
demolishing the structure if it is
determined to be unsafe.
On Monday night, school
board members listened to
three architectural/engineering
firms who have visually inspect-
ed the building.
Jim California and Jeff Kamin-
ski with Buchart, Horn Basco
Associates of York, said their
evaluation of the building left
some questions unanswered.
The men told the school board
a more in-depth analysis is
needed to determine if the
structural framing of the build-
ing is sound.
“We would need to remove
surfaces like plaster, metal
lathe, floors and drop ceilings to
investigate the bones of the
building,” Kaminski said. “The
foundation is not showing any
with here.”
Allen Roth
On condition of Dallas Twp. School building
signs of serious settlement.”
Allen Roth, vice-president of
Joseph B. Callaghan Inc. of Phi-
ladelphia, said a more compre-
hensive inspection will be need-
ed but his visual inspection of
the site leads him to believe the
building is “very salvageable.”
He said the district would be
looking at a price tag of
$250,000 to 300,000 to demol-
ish the building.
“It is a durable building,”
Roth said. “Although the roof
does leak, it is not sagging. You
have something to work with
here.”
Greg Marks, forensic engineer
with Barry Isett and Associates
of Hazleton, said his feelings on
the building were “relatively
good.”
Marks said he would need
two to two and a half days to
perform a physical inspection of
the building at which time he
would plan to cut holes in the
plaster ceilings in strategic ar-
eas to “get a full scope of the
situation.”
“We all know the roof leaks,
but how has that affected the
building?” Marks asked.
School board member Gary
Mathers said it is tough to say
what the building would be
used for when the current struc-
tural strength is unknown. Su-
perintendent Frank Galicki
agreed.
After hearing the news,
school board members agreed
to review the information pro-
vided and table any decision un-
til the December 14 meeting.
In other news, the following
members have been reappointed
to the school board: Dr. Bruce
M. Goeringer, president; Russell
Bigus, vice-president; Charlie
Preece, new member, Karen Z.
Kyle, Dr. Richard G. Coslett,
and Maureen Matiska approved
for a second four-year term.
Cathy Wega was unanimously
voted to replace Richard Orlow-
ski for a two-year term as repre-
sentative to the West Side Ca-
reer Technology Center. Gary
Mathers was nominated for a
three-year term.
Preece was nominated and
approved to serve as board sec-
retary. Goeringer and Matiska
were approved as representa-
tives to the Back Mountain Li-
brary Board while Kyle and
Preece were nominated and ac-
cepted as representatives to the
Parent Advisory Council.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
Two bridges will be
replaced next year
By EILEEN GODIN
Dallas Post Correspondent
Luzerne County Engineer
Joseph Gibbons accepted an
invitation to attend Jackson
Township's Monday night
meeting to discuss two pro-
posed bridge replacements.
Gibbons told supervisors
two bridges, one by the
Farmers Inn on Huntsville
Road and another near the
corner of Chase and Hillside
Roads, are scheduled to be
replaced starting in 2010.
The replacement bridges are
prefabricated and will still
have the look of a natural
field stone bridge.
Last month; Bernie Banks
from American Asphalt
raised concerns that, without
the use of a temporary
bridge, the proposed bridge
projects would cause traffic
tie-ups and delayed response
time for emergency vehicles.
Gibbons confirmed tempo-
rary bridges would not be in-
stalled during construction
and said vehicles would have
delayed access through the
site.
Secretary Denise Rittinger
said one bridge is too close
to The Lands at Hillside
Farms, a National Historic
Site, for a temporary bridge.
Work on the bridges will
begin in 2010 with the bridge
on Huntsville Road near The
Farmers Inn being the first.
In other news ...
e Supervisors passed a
resolution to allow Quad 3
Architectural, Engineering
and Environmental Science
Group of Wilkes-Barre to
study and design a possible
sewer project for Bulford
Farms.
Rittinger said, when a sys-
tem is developed, it will have
to pass the Dallas Area Mu-
nicipal Authority’s require-
ments and then be presented
to the supervisors for review.
e Supervisors announced
that their end-of-year meet-
ing to pass the $1,103,616
proposed budget is sched-
uled for 10 a.m. on Wednes-
day, Dec. 23, in the munici-
pal building.
At this time, no increase in
the current mill rate of .6643
is projected. The mill rate is
$1 for every $1,000 assessed
in tax value.
The proposed budget is
available for public viewing
in the municipal building.
e Supervisors will hold
their re-organizational meet-
ing at 6 p.m. on Monday,
Jan. 4, in the municipal
building. The regular month-
ly meeting will follow.
—_
Santa coming to Franklin Twp.
The Franklin Township
Volunteer Fire Company will
host its annual children’s
Christmas party today, Dec
13.
Santa will arrive by fire
truck at 2 p.m. after he tours
the neighborhoods looking
for good little girls and boys.
He and Mrs. Claus will be at
the fire hall with a bag full of
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Franklin Township Fire Hall
\ at 2 p.m. today to deliver gifts for all good boys and girls.
goodies for the children.
The fire company will pro-
vide light refreshments for
everyone as well as crafts
and face painting for chil-
dren.
The fire company is locat-
ed at 329 Orange Rd. (an ex-
tension of Eighth St.) For
more information, call one of
Santa’s elves at 333-5970.
|
CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST
Officers past and present of the St. Therese's Altar and Rosary Society are, from left, seated, Shirley Type, Patsy Balonis, Carole Pax-
ton and Patti Gallagher. Standing, Dell Luke, Alice Hudak, Alice Solinsky and Fr. James Paisley
St. Therese’s Altar &
Rosary Society holds tea
and elects new officers
Member of the Altar & Rosary Society of
St. Therese’s Church in Shavertown gath-
ered recently for the annual Christmas lun-
cheon. New officers were installed during
A ow a ey
AR v We )
a ob Sane
a’ oh Ap
Long-time friends Millie Yanchik, left, and Margaret Reinert catch
up on old times at the St. Therese's Altar and Rosary Society
Luncheon.
the event.
and Patti Gallagher.
: ™
NC Fu
Quilters of the St. Therese's Altar and Rosary Society are, from left, Millie Yanchik, Ruth Youngblood, Joan Colatosti, Peggy Fischer