DP News

dallas township

March 7, 2010

New flood zone maps may change status of properties

By Sarah Hite shite@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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New maps may soon alter which properties are considered to be in township floodplains.

According to township zoning officer Leonard Kozick, new floodplain maps are being prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for every municipality in the state.

The new maps show aerial views of the land and include some changes as to which properties are included in floodplains and which are not.

Township supervisors decided March 2 not to approve the new maps until they consult Tom Doughton, an employee of Douglas F. Trumbower and Associates, which serves as the township’s engineer.

According to Kozick, the first floodplain maps were issued in 1973 after the Agnes Flood in 1972.

Those people whose properties are added to the new maps and who have a mortgage may be required to purchase flood insurance policies while those whose properties are removed may no longer be required to carry the insurance.

The township has 90 days from the receipt of a Feb. 3 letter to accept the changes or formally appeal them. Township officials still need to determine how many properties are impacted by the new floodplain boundaries and must also inform citizens affected by the changes.

Kozick said the township will have to advertise and hold a public meeting about the floodplain map changes.

Road materials

The supervisors decided to bid out all of their road materials for 2010 rather than automatically going with the state’s COSTARS program prices.

COSTARS allows municipalities to use the program’s pricing for materials without putting the materials out for bid.

Roadmaster Ronald Buchman asked if the township could use COSTARS pricing for blacktop but bid out gravel.

Buchman said he prefers going to nearby American Asphalt, which is included in COSTARS, for blacktop because it is more convenient.

“I believe we should advertise and see where they come in,” said Frank Wagner, vice chairman of supervisors.

Skyview Drive

Township solicitor Attorney Thomas Brennan said several residents on Skyview Drive have obtained a private attorney.

the residents attended the Dec. 15, 2009 supervisors meeting in hopes of convincing the supervisors that the bottom section of their street was previously taken over by the township.

Brennan previously said his analysis is that the township never accepted the bottom portion of Skyview Drive.

Brennan said the residents and their attorney will visit the municipal building to look at the maps.

Natural gas drilling

Brad Noble, a resident of the township, expressed concerns over natural gas drilling coming to the area. Noble asked the supervisors if they would consider passing an ordinance to restrict drilling within a certain distance of residences.

“Oh, I think so,” said Phil Walter, chairman of supervisors.

Noble said he wants to work with local legislators to have them propose a 5-mile land buffer from drilling and feels drilling companies should be required to put up bond money in the municipalities in which they are drilling.

“The drilling up here is going to be a nightmare, I’m telling you right now,” Noble said. “There should be further distances between residences.”

Kunkle Fire Chief Jack Dodson said approximately 50 percent of all landowners in Kunkle have signed natural gas drilling leases. Dodson also said WhitMar Exploration Co. has speculated it would like to drill on a farm in Kunkle within the next two years.

Painting presented

Township chief of police Robert Jolley presented the supervisors with a painting of the township’s late K-9 dog, Macko.

The police department purchased its first K-9 dog, Macko, in 2005 with a grant from the U.S. Office of Homeland Security. Macko was diagnosed with lymphoma at age 4 last year and was put down in September.

The township purchased a new K-9 dog, Aron, last October. The 2-year-old black German Shepherd was certified as a K-9 dog on Jan. 25 after undergoing several months of training.

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