JACKSON TOWNSHIP ONLINE NEWS
JACKSON TOWNSHIP NEWS
September 11, 2006
***********************
HIGHLIGHTS FROM AUGUST 31, 2006 BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS MEETING
~A Public Meeting was held on the Comprehensive Plan. Richard
Sutter & Associates gave a slide presentation and comments and questions were
received from those attending. Some of the items brought up were historical
preservation, coal trucks on Pike Road East, the Laurel Highlands Landfill and
fly ash. The comments were noted. The Plan will be on the Agenda to be
officially adopted at the September 28, 2006 meeting.
~The Board of Supervisors approved a Neighborhood Crime Watch Initiative
as an outreach program of the Jackson Township Police Department. The initiative
was started by two Township families, the Gina & Dave Mumau family and the
Justine & Al Harris family. The Program will involve posting signs in the
neighborhood which encompasses Broadwing, Chaser, Niagara, Snably and Smith
Streets in Mundys Corner. A meeting will also be planned with Chief Fatula and
the residents. Chief Foust of Johnstown and a neighborhood crime watch leader
from Johnstown has also volunteered to attend the meeting when a date is set.
~The Board unanimously passed Ordinance # 140 regulating wind turbine
generators in Jackson Township. Several wind energy companies have
approached Jackson Township about erecting windmills and the Ordinance offers
protection to residents. One key element is establishing a 2500 foot setback
from the nearest residence to where a windmill could be built.
~The Board adopted Ordinance # 141 regulating surface and land development
associated with oil and gas drilling operations in Jackson Township.
This Ordinance offers land owners protection from companies trying to access oil
and gas which may be located under your land. In neighboring municipalities
property owners have been threatened as companies try to access oil and gas
which they have the rights to. These companies have built roads and drilled on
properties without obtaining permission from the property owners.
~The Supervisors approved Ordinance # 142 was adopted which amends Ordinance #
71 clarifying that penalties for non attendance by Supervisors at meetings
only applies to regularly scheduled evening meetings or the annual
reorganization meeting.
~The Board approved the current inventory of traffic control and
regulation signage. This approval is in conjunction with the recently
passed Roadmaster Ordinance which allows traffic control signs to be posted at
any time. The new signs are then approved at the next Supervisors meeting.
~The Supervisors authorized the advertisement of Ordinance # 143
authorizing entering into Inter-Municipal Agreement with Cambria Township and
Ebensburg Borough for the purpose of developing a Joint Municipal Comprehensive
Plan for the Central Cambria Coalition. They also approved an
Inter-Municipal Agreement with Cambria Township and Ebensburg Borough
for the purpose of developing a Joint Municipal Comprehensive Plan for the
Central Cambria Coalition pending passage of Ordinance # 143.
~The Board also authorized the advertisement of Ordinance # 144 which amends
Ordinance # 47 to require new property owners to tap into the Jackson
Township Water System when a property with occupied structures is sold.
~The Board authorized the advertisement of Ordinance # 145 authorizing
entering into an Inter-Municipal Agreement with Cambria Township for the
purchase of a paving machine. They also approved a Inter-Municipal
Agreement with Cambria Township for the purchase of a paving machine
pending passage of Ordinance # 145. In a related motion the Board approved
Resolution 10-06 authorizing the filing of a $25,000. DCED grant to be
applied towards the joint purchase of a paving machine in cooperation with
Cambria Township for the amount of $107,786.00 from Stephenson Equipment Inc.,
~The Board authorized the Solicitor to prepare Ordinance # 146 ordaining
Pine Lock Street as a public road in Jackson Township and schedule a
public hearing. The residents who own approx. 65% of the frontage along Pine
Lock Street have petitioned the Board to take over the street. Only 50% is
required according to the Solicitor.
~The Supervisors authorized the advertisement of bids for the Vinco Stream
Bank Stabilization Project per specifications completed by the Cambria
County Conservation District. There has been flooding in that area for several
years and the Project should help resolve the situation.
~The Board authorized the advertisement for bids for the following
Township Property no longer in use: Etnyre Stone Chipper, Galion 4-6 Ton
roller, Galion 3-Wheel Roller, Schram Air Compressor, 2001 Ford Crown Victoria
Police Vehicle, 1999 Ford Crown Victoria Police Vehicle, 1996 Chevy Caprice
Vehicle, Aeroil Tar Buggy & Kerosene Burner, Ohan Diesel Powered Generator and
Prismo Universal Line Painter.
~The Supervisors accepted the resignation of Joe Baxter from the Jackson
Township Recreation Commission. They also appointed Walt George
to fulfill the remainder of the position. A motion was made to table any
action on the resignation of Al Slippy from the Recreation Commission.
~The Board approved list of recommendations by the Jackson Township
Recreation Commission on activities and events to be developed by the
Commission with assistance from Kelly Lundgren of Americorps.
~The Supervisors authorized the Solicitor to start an Amendment to the
Zoning Ordinance to include Ordinance # 140 regulating Windmill
Turbines.
~The Board authorized Mainline Midget Football League, Central Cambria
Team to use Leidy Field as their home field if they so desire. An
interest was expressed by several residents involved in the league.
**************************
JULY, 2006 POLICE REPORT
The July, 2006 Police Report submitted by Police Chief Bob Fatula was presented.
The figures for June were as follows:
911 Calls dispatched to Police were 399.
Reportable Incidents were 41 broken down as follows:
~Theft-22
~Criminal Mischief-7
~Harassment-3
~Assault-2
~Burglary-2
~DUI (Driving While Under the Influence)-2
~Disorderly Conduct-1
~Threats-1
~Underage Drinking-1
Accidents Handled-7
Traffic Citations Issued-27
Non-Traffic Citations Issued-2
Criminal Charges Filed were 7 broken down as follows:
~DUI (Driving While Under the Influence)-2
~Assault-1
~Disorderly Conduct-1
~Harassment-1
~Theft-1
~Underage Drinking-1
**************************
RECREATION PURSUES MORE ACTIVITIES &
EVENTS FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS
One of the goals of the Master Recreation
Plan is to hold more events and activities for residents of all ages within the
Township. This opportunity is now possible through a program called
Americorps. Americorps is administered locally by the Pennsylvania
Mountain Service Corps., an organization created under Appalachia Intermediate
Unit 8 in Ebensbug. A position was applied for earlier this year and Jackson
received notification that a full time position (1700 hours) was awarded for one
year from the end of August, 2006 through August, 2007. Jackson Township’s
portion of the position amounts to $5200. which amounts to ˝ of the wages
received by the individual. The remainder comes from Americorps funding. In
addition, when the individual completes the term, they are also entitled to an
educational award of $4,725. Interviews were held for the position from a pool
of Americorps applicants and Kelly Lundgren from nearby Colver was
chosen. Kelly previously served a full term with Americorps during the 1999-2000
year and worked as an Early Childhood Educational Consultant Assistant. Kelly
said “I’m looking forward to working with different people. . .everyone from
kids to senior citizens.” Kelly will be working with the Recreation Commission
on planning and coordinating events and then helping to carry them out. She
said, “It sounds like a lot of fun. . .I’m definitely looking forward to it.”.
The Recreation Commission held a special meeting on August 22nd to discuss and
prioritize what events and activities she could begin helping them with for the
Fall and Winter months. Among the potential recreation activities,
programs and events discussed were: fall festival, Halloween dance, Christmas
light-up at Veterans Park, winter festival at Mitchell Park, scouting jamborees
at Leidy & Mitchell Parks, walk-a-thons on the walking paths at Leidy & Veterans
Parks, youth basketball leagues, three-on-three basketball tournament, ice
skating, roller and ice hockey, miniature golf league, movie nights, fitness
programs, Christmas lights contest and evening of caroling in the Township.
Out of all the ideas proposed, the ones given the highest priority for Kelly to
begin working on with the Recreation Commission were: miniature golf league,
fall festival and / or Halloween dance, Christmas lights contest, caroling in
the Township, winter festival, walk-a-thon, scouting jamborees and movie nights.
The Commission members discussed the idea of partnering with private groups and
organizations. One example would be working with the Chickaree Ridge Runners
Snowmobile Club to hold a winter festival at Mitchell Park. It was also
suggested a volunteer pool of Township residents be established. The idea is to
match the talents and inclinations of individuals with programs and events that
they are interested in supporting.
**************************
BUILDING CODE AGENCY SEEKS CHANGES
The Cambria County Building Codes Agency who administers the State
Construction Code for Jackson Township and 29 other municipalities in Cambria
County is anticipating some changes for 2007. When the Agency was first
established, they contracted out to a 3rd party inspection agency (MDIA) to
perform inspections for building permits issued due to funds and the time frame.
At a meeting on August 23rd, the Building Codes Agency made their intent known
that they are looking to hire their own inspector(s). By having their own
inspectors they feel they will be able to provide better service to the citizens
and have better control over the inspection process. Any complaints, issues or
problems could be resolved more efficiently being that the newly hired
inspectors would report directly to the Agency rather than go through a
third-party chain-of-command
**************************
SPREAD THE NEWS. . INVITE YOUR NEIGHBORS TO JOIN JACKSON TOWNSHIP
NEWS ONLINE. . . .just tell them to enter their email address in the
yahoogroups purple box on the main page of
www.jacksontwppa.com
They will receive an email confirmation that they must reply / return verifying
they wish to be added. It's easy to join and keep updated on news that affects
you and your community.
We hope you enjoy receiving news updates on Jackson Township and will spread the word to others to sign up to receive future newsletters at the Jackson Township Website. Our website is updated frequently and the address is www.jacksontwppa.com If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments please forward them to office@jacksontwppa.com
Jackson Township Supervisors
Dave Hirko / Manager
Return