Chlorine over coliform

Long-term decision still in limbo Westfall - Chlorination has solved the recent growth of coliform bacteria in the Dingman Delaware Elementary, but officials insist that the state is responsible for the lack of a long-term solution. Reporting to the Delaware Valley School Board on Jan. 18, Marvin Eversdyke, director of support services, said the Department of Environmental Protection is satisfied with the chlorination effort. Eversdyke noted that his first letter to the department, seeking feedback on the district’s water correction feasibility study, went out in March of last year. “We didn’t get any feedback,” he added. Others blamed confusion about who was to initiate design work. The state is “waiting for a plan ... It’s not their job to draw plans,” said Diane French, a Delaware Valley resident. Solicitor Michael Weinstein again warned about the danger of moving ahead on the project without state oversight. That could end in a state official asking, “Who told you to build that tower?” he said. Board member Bell Smith said a water tower is “no magic bullet ... Water has the potential to go bad as it’s sitting [in the tower],” she said. In other business, the board formally adopted a 2.5-percent rate resolution for the local personal income tax question to be placed on the May primary ballot. The board does not support the state-mandated question and is urging voters to reject it.