No township tax increase planned

But five mills proposed for emergency services dedicated fund DINGMAN — There will be no township tax increase for Dingman Township property owners next year - for the most part. Supervisors Chair Tom Mincer announced Tuesday that all township personnel and departments were asked to tighten their belt. This will amount to a zero general fund tax increase. A five-mill budget increase, about $35 on the average tax bill, to provide needed funds for the Dingman Township Fire Department has been proposed. “This will be a dedicated amount going directly to the fire department and other emergency services,” said Mincer. Mincer said the fire department and other emergency services need a dedicated source of funds for capital expenditures. Volunteerism is down and equipment costs are up. “We’re in a bad economy and we’ll weather it out. We’re going to have another tough year. Maybe the next year we’ll be better. We have to make sure the emergency services have the ability to function. Without our fire department and Pike ALS (Advanced Life Support) having a verified stream of income they won’t be able to purchase new equipment which wears out quickly. When someone calls they have to be able to get there so we don’t lose anyone,” he said. A motion was made to approve advertising the 2010 budget, which is available for public review at the township office. The budget is scheduled to be approved by the supervisors at their Dec. 15 meeting. A representative from Pike ALS reported there were 150 calls in October of which 23 were in Dingman. There were 659 Milford Fire Department ambulance calls year-to-date and 240 of those calls were in Dingman Township. He also said there have been 330 Milford Fire emergency calls year-to-date of which 136 were in Dingman. Fire department crews are still busy with training which is a continuing effort to keep them up to date. Their new rehabilitation unit is sanded and primed and is ready for painting. Dingman Township Fire Chief Bill Mikulak presented the supervisors with the 2010 schedule of fund raising events which was approved. Mikulak also stated he has received some smoke detectors for residential use and they are available at no charge. Call 296-9200 for information on where to get them. In other business A motion was approved to advertise for a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) to audit fiscal year 2009. An appointment will be made at the township’s organizational meeting in January. In correspondence, Mincer said the National Park Service owned-Ramirez solar glass house is being renovated. There was some joking about the millions that might be spent on the project. Township Secretary Karen Kleist then said, “Maybe they can put the library in it.” Township Sewage Enforcement officer Chris Wood said that as in past, he has received the US Census Bureau TIGER Maps (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Reinforcing System) for corrections. Wood reported there were only 63 mistakes this time. There were 300 mistakes the last time he received them. Road name and locations were the main errors. He also reported attending the Census 2010 meeting held at Pike County COG (Council of Government). Wood said the speaker at the meeting claimed Pike County had a 45 percent undercount for the 2000 census.