No official Dingman position of library tax

| 29 Sep 2011 | 04:16

    But Mincer and Brink oppose changes in personal remarks DINGMAN — The library tax debate over the upcoming referendum arose before the Dingman Township Supervisors Tuesday. Asked for their position on the issue, Supervisors Chair Tom Mincer deferred. “The supervisors can’t make a recommendation as a board representing the township,” he said. “I don’t support the library tax on a personal basis,” he added. However, “I think the libraries are necessary and we need more of them. This is a free society which lives on knowledge. We need more libraries like the Dingman Branch and not what they have planned,” said Mincer. Supervisor Dennis Brink added his opinion. “Some people will decide when they vote on the referendum. I support our present library, but I don’t support the new proposed one.” In other business The township had received a letter from the state Department of Environmental Protection regarding the status of two township streams. One is the Dwarf’s Kill and the other is Shohola Creek. Both of these streams are currently classified as HQ (High Quality). The DEP is considering changing that HQ designation to EV (Exceptional Value), which is more restrictive. The change would specifically affect existing and future dischargers of wastewater and other pollutants that might impact the streams. Town Solicitor John Klemeyer expressed concern and asked the supervisors to keep up to speed on this matter. He wanted them to determine the basis for the change, and what portions of the streams will be affected. He said he found no specific sections of the streams listed in the information that accompanied the letter. Township Sewage Enforcement Officer Chris Wood reported there will be a zoning hearing regarding resident Richard Williams. Williams placed a shed in an area designated as floodplain without getting a township permit. He is appealing the zoning officer’s designation of floodplain. “He wants to contest whether he placed the shed in a floodplain even though his other shed was washed away,” stated Wood, who was chuckling as he spoke. The sewage planning module for the new Dingman Township Park, which was recommended by the Planning Commission, received the go-ahead from the supervisors. The planning module will be sent on to the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). Two bid proposals for winter salt were opened. Winter salt is treated sodium chloride. Cargill Salt Company came in with a $71.51 per ton delivered. International Salt Company came in at $98.66 per ton delivered. Cargill was the chosen to supply 250 tons of winter salt for the township. The Supervisors approved the final common space area plan from Sunnylands Incorporated, which allows Sunnylands owner Bob Ramagosa to complete plans a new sub-division area of Sunrise Lake. A representative of the Milford Fire Department reported they had answered 620 emergency calls this year to date, with 227 of those calls in Dingman. There were also 312 fire calls, of which 128 were in Dingman. The Milford Fire Department has been outfitting a new disaster emergency unit and expect it to be on the road by the end of December. Township Roadmaster Jim Snyder told the supervisors 900 tons of winter anti-skid as well as 235 tons of winter salt are on hand. He said their salt barn is pretty much full at this point. His crew has been working on township trucks to prepare for the winter, with salt spreaders being their focus.