Building inspector's decision to go before township hearing board

DINGMAN — It’s a rarity, but the township has received a Building Hearing Board application. Township Secretary Karen Kleist said Tuesday that this was the first such application made in over 11 years. The hearing board provides a Dingman resident with a venue to appeal a decision made by the township building inspector. In this case, a resident appealed an inspector’s decision against a screened -in room which was to be attached to a trailer at Lake Adventure. Lake Adventure on State Route 739 is a development comprised of recreational vehicle trailers and mobile homes which remain permanently on deeded lots within the community. Township Solicitor John Klemeyer offered no opposition and the application which was accepted for later action by the supervisors. Despite the cold weather and heating issues that often arise with it, fire incidents were at a minimum last month. Dingman Township Fire Chief Bill Mikulak reported at Tuesday’s Township Supervisors meeting, saying January was a slow month for the fire department. “We had 19 fire calls and 53 EMS calls.” A new EMS Training Program has been started and a new EMS computer software program with lots of bells and whistles is now being used. Mikulak said there will be a lot to learn with the new software. In addition, “Last weekend’s fund raising breakfast went very well and the department is doing okay,” he said. Township Roadmaster Jim Snyder stated his department has been very busy with the recent snow and ice storms keeping township roads open for vehicle traffic. Township trucks have used a lot of winter salt and anti-skid and have just about 100 tons left. “We’ll have to order more anti-skid in early March.” A recently purchased dump truck which is being outfitted with necessary equipment will be finally ready by the first week of March. “We’ve sent out a lot of letters to homeowners that have been shoveling or snowblowing their snow onto town roads,” said Snyder. There is a town ordinance against this practice. Township Sewage Enforcement Officer Chris Wood told the supervisors that permit applications slowed down during this period of winter weather. Wood and another town employee attended a construction inspection course in Scranton and reported that all the inspections done in Dingman exceeded the standards taught in the course. He also added that he had scored 32 correct answers on a 33 question test at the end of the course. In other business, the Blue Ridge Cable Franchise for Dingman Township was on the agenda for public hearing. There were no township residents present either for or against the renewal. The only person present was a Blue Ridge employee and he remained silent. The renewal was approved by the supervisors.