Sunday, June 12, 2011 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 7 DALLAS TOWNSHIP By SARAH HITE 2 ' shite@mydallaspost.com Natural gas companies looking to construct pipelines within the ‘township are now required to re- ceive zoning approval for pro- jects, officials said at a meeting ‘Tuesday night. . Two natural gas companies, Chief Gathering LLC and Wil- liams Field Services LLC, have submitted plans to build gather- ing lines within the township to tap into the Williams-owned Transco interstate pipeline, which runs perpendicular to Hil- debrant Road near the Dallas School District campus. Solicitor Thomas Brennan said an Act 14 notification was re- ceived by the township on May 19 on behalf of Chief for its applica- tion for a state Department of En- vironmental Protection permit related to its approximately 30- mile Wyoming Natural Gas Pipe- line. Act 14 notifications are re- quired by the state for companies looking to apply for certain per- mits related to projects within municipalities and counties. The notification allows local govern- ments 30 days to provide com- Two natural gas companies, Chief Gathering LLC and Williams Field Services LLC, have submitted plans to build gathering lines within the township to tap into the Williams-owned Transco in- terstate pipeline, which runs perpendicular to Hildebrant Road near the Dallas School District campus. mentary on companies’ inten- tions before a permit can be is- sued. Jack Varaly, the township’s planning consultant, reviewed the permit application and noted “inaccurate and/or undocument- ed responses.” Zoning Officer Leonard Kozick wrote a letter to the state Depart- ment of Environmental Protec- tion stating Chief has not satis- fied zoning requirements and has not addressed community con- cerns about the pipeline project. He said he wrote letters in May to both companies stating the need for zoning approval prior to land development and subdivi- sion approval for pipeline pro- jects. Kozick added that zoning ap- proval for such projects has al- ways been necessary, but could not determine the projects re- quirements until after plans were reviewed. Williams submitted plans for a 33-mile pipeline pro- ject in late April, and Chief sub- mitted plans for its Wyoming County pipeline in early May. Brennan said while the town- ship is requiring zoning approval for the pipeline projects, the issue is being contested by Chief. Zoning hearings for natural gas Natural gas companies must now get zoning approval activities are currently underway within the township already — Chief will attend a fifth continua- tion hearing on June 16 for its special zoning exceptions appli- cation to build a natural gas me- tering station off Hildebrandt Road about 1,300 feet from the Dallas schools. Williams withdrew its land de- velopment and subdivision appli- cation for a metering station about 500 feet away from the Chief proposed site in April be- cause the planning commission would be unable to grant approv- See GAS, Page 9 KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Issue of police force study doesn't even make it to vote By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com ®. motion to opt into a grant- 7] fonsored regional police force “study didn’t event make it to vote at the board of supervisors meeting Wednesday. Though studies have been conducted in the past to no avail, members of the Back Mountain Community Partner- ship were alerted to a Gover- nor’s Center for Local Govern- ment Services-backed grant to participate in another study at a meeting last month. Partnership members from Dallas Borough and Dallas, Franklin, Jackson, Kingston and Lehman townships agreed to discuss the idea with their indi- vidual boards before agreeing to participate in the study. As of Wednesday, Jackson Township approved its partici- pation in the study, but King- ston Township will not. After a brief discussion and hearing Police Chief James Ba- lavage’s opinion on the matter, board members failed to make a second motion on the issue. Balavage said a similar study from about 17 years ago didn’t provide results in favor of a re- gionalization, and said only if a current study was “serious” would he consider taking part. “Unless there is a concerted piort to understand ... policing «1 the future, I would say no,” he said. The board also discussed an issue pertaining to the Sleepy Hollow development owned by Dr. Joseph Lombardo. Township Manager Kathleen Sebastian said the owner has not yet paid engineering fees incurred to the township, and he has also ven- Though studies have been conducted in the past to no avail, members of the Back Mountain Community Partnership were alerted to a Governor's Center for Local Government Services- backed grant to participate in another study at a meeting last month. tured from land development plans approved by the planning commission in the construction of a detention basin. Zoning Officer Bill Eck said the issue has been ongoing for at least two years. Solicitor Benjamin Jones III advised the board to send two separate notification letters to Lombardo, giving him 30 days to resolve the aforementioned issues. He said if Lombardo does not comply, the township will need to’ take legal action. The board discussed changes to its ‘public exhibitions and amusements ordinance. John Gibbons, of the Back Mountain Harvest Assembly Church, said he received a letter from the township expressing public safety concerns about the church’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display. Board member Frank Natitus said attendees often park on both sides of narrow streets, in- cluding Manor Drive, Terrace Avenue and Dug Road, which prohibits normal traffic flow as well as emergency vehicle pas- sage. Supervisor James Reino Jr. said fiscal difficulties in provid- ing adequate police force for the event is another issue the town- ship is trying to resolve. “Even though we have the largest police force in the Back Mountain... with the costs in- volved, we just don’t have the manpower,” he said. Natitus suggested looking in- to pooling officers from neigh- boring municipalities for the hour-long event, but the board made no final decision in recon- ciling the issues related to the event. A public hearing about the proposed changes to the public exhibitions and amusements or- dinance will be held prior to the board’s next meeting on July 13. In other news, the board... e Tabled a decision to switch emergency medical service pro- viders from Trans-Med of Forty Fort to Wyoming Hose Co. No. 1 until all involved parties could be available for a special meet- ing on the matter. e Tabled a resolution to ap- prove an inter-municipal liquor license transfer to Bali Enter- prises of 155 N. Memorial Hwy., Shavertown. e Approved a motion to pur- sue temporarily changing the weight limit of Main Street, Shavertown in relation to the East Center Street Bridge pro- ject. eo Awarded a bid to Student Transportation of America in the amount of $4,901.32 for summer recreation program transportation. e Approved an additional $3,500 to the already expended $13,600 for the Terrace Avenue pipe project at the request of Borton-Lawson engineers. LAKE TOWNSHIP Response coverage is discussed By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent An issue of designating emer- gency response coverage for Sor- ber Mountain Road was deter- mined while township supervi- sors also awarded a road con- struction bid and appointed a new code enforcement officer on Wednesday night. Sorber Mountain Road was covered by both Sweet Valley Vol- aanteer Fire and Ambulance Com- wany and Harveys Lake Volun- “teer Fire and Ambulance for _ years. Each has its designated ar- _ eas. Barney Dobinick, emergency management coordinator, said Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire and Ambulance will cover “from the bottom of Sorber Mountain Road to the ‘y’ intersection and Har- veys Lake Fire and Ambulance will cover the remainder of the road.” Supervisor Bob Grey estimat- ed the coverage areas have been that way for years but lately, 911 dispatchers has been getting them confused. Supervisor Chairman Lonnie Piatt and Do- binick announced designated ar- eas for each fire and ambulance department. Piatt and Dobinick said they will visit the 911 dispatch office to inform authorities there of the proper coverage areas. In other news ... e Popple Construction Inc. of Laflin was awarded a contract for road repair work on Cemetery Road. Their bid was $60,655. Other bids were: Hazleton Site Contractors of Hazleton, $69,878; Pennsy Supply Inc. of Pittston, $72,933.50; and B & J Paving of Dallas, $109,899.50. e Lake Township resident Ga- ry Booth will replace Dobinick as code enforcement officer at a pay of $14.80 per hour. Dobinick re- signed as code enforcement offi- cer last month, citing reasons of scheduling conflicts. e Supervisors reminded resi- dents that recycling will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 18 at the municipal build- ing. 23, 24, 25 and 26. Swoyersville. The Music Box Players proudly present The Music Box 30th Anniversary Revue on June 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 and 26 at the Music Box Playhouse, 291 Hughes St., Featuring a cast of 20 Mu- sic Box veterans and begin- ning with a sampling of their first production, “Oklaho- ma,” the musical journey will include selections from some of the Playhouse’s most delightful successes, “Annie,” “Grease,” “Evita,” Two named to dean's list Shauna Phillips and Amy Vodzak, both of Dallas, have been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2011 semester at Widener University. The dean’s list recognizes full-time students who earned a grade point average of 3.50 and above for the semester. Heffers receive mathematics award Windows? \ | Serving the Wyoming Valley since 1898 Commercial and Large Residential If You Are Looking For Experience, Call Us Competitive Prices » Complete Janitorial Services * Floor Cleaning & Maintenance » Gutter Cleaning * Fully Insured & Bonded (570) 823-7018 ilkes-Barre indow Cleaning, Inc. Dirty 203091 PEOPLE BRIEFS James Heffers, of Dallas, received The Reverend James E. Kline Award for Mathematics at the 62nd annual commencement exer- cises at King’s College. Heffers graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. DAY CAMP! «July 18-22, Soccer Camp il Scenes from the past 30 years of productions at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse will be featured when the Music box Players present The Music Box 30th Anniversary Rebvue on June 17,18, 19, Thirty years of Music Box “Cabaret,” “Nunsense,” “Guys and Dolls” and many more. The cast includes: Erin Ab- bott, Cindy Brandreth, Cier- ra Cellerari, Kevin Costley, Dorrance Daniels, Rebecca Darling, Sue Drake, Dana Feigenblatt, Michael Gal- lagher, Courtney Hahn, Karl Kleist, T. Doyle Leverett, Skyler 'Makuch, D.J. Mar- koch, Cate McDonald, Ben Steltz, George Steltz, Bill Ul- ichney, Debbie Zehner and Ronnie Ziomek. Musical di- rection is by Nancy Evans and sets and lighting are by Michael Gallagher. For tickets and additional information, call the box of- fice at 283-2195. + July 25- 29, Soccer Camp * August 1 - 5, Total Sports Cam
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