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RICE TWP. — Dozens of residents filled the Rice Township municipal hall on Tuesday night, many with questions about the draining of a lake that has beached its boats, widened its shores and caused general concern.
Township Engineer Andy Pasonik was on hand to answer questions regarding a problematic pipe near a dam adjacent to upper Ice Lake that seemed to be causing the drainage. But as of yet, the cause has not been verified.
Pasonik said he had been in touch with the state Department of Environmental Protection and was waiting to hear back.
The late is owned by the township and overseen by the several state agencies.
He said before any action is taken, the township needs to determine if any existing drawings of the inner workings of the dam exist and, if they do not, the lake must be drained to determine the condition of the existing pipe.
He said any action by the township in regard to the matter must first be cleared with the DEP to avoid compromising of the integrity of the lake.
In response to a resident’s reference to sending a diver down to determine the condition of the pipe, supervisor Miller Stella strongly dissuaded anyone from doing that, noting that it was dangerous and against township policy. He did, however, encourage a proactive approach to the problem.
“Its obviously 7 or 8 feet lower then it’s ever been,” Stella said. “We need to have a plan of action.”
Supervisor Marcia Thomas said the DEP had been contacted within 24 hours of township officials taking notice of the problem, with the township complying with its directives, identifying them as the regulating agency in the matter.
“The DEP said that this was not an emergency situation,” she said.
Supervisor Robert Pipech said the problem’s resolution would not come overnight, but instead would be a process.
In another matter, resident Karl Kaminski, questioned a $400,000 balance in township accounts, which he said he thought was high.
Thomas said the balance was consistent with balances of other years, especially with an upcoming paving project for which the funds in the account would be used. The project would include several township roadways.
In another matter, the supervisors voted to appoint secretary Alicia Stier as zoning officer, replacing Alan Snelson.
In voting against the appointment, Stella said Stier already had many duties.
“She can’t be going out to measure something if she’s answering the phone,” he said.
In a conciliatory motion, Stier was appointed to that position only until Jan. 1.
The board approved the hiring of Jack Varaly, of PennEastern, to complete the township’s comprehensive plan.
Additionally, the board approved the payment of $1,758 to the Mountain Top Council of Governments for its share of expenses incurred from June 4 through Aug. 20.
Thomas said the Luzerne County Board of Elections recently conducted an inspection of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church to determine if it could be used as a polling place. Residents will be notified if that polling location is approved.
Thomas noted that in moving the polling place from the municipal building to the church, the municipal building could remain open on voting day.
The board encouraged community participation on the Mountain Top Kite Festival to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 26 at the township municipal park.