Township seeks funding for Bridge Preserve

$75,000 sought from Joint Bridge Commission for parking and trails DINGMAN — Township officials are moving ahead with the limited parkland development of a 316-acre tract donated for ongoing preservation by resident Charles Bridge. At the Feb. 16 meeting of the Dingman Township Supervisors, Chairman Tom Mincer made a motion for the filing of the Delaware Joint Bridge Commission Grant Application. This will be a $75,000 grant for the construction of a parking area and trails on the preservation site at the junction of US Route 6 and Sawkill Road. Bridge donated the land, most of which (244 acres) is in Milford Township, in 2007. The southerly section has frontage on Sawkill Pond and Sawkill Creek, while the larger forested northerly section adjoins Hickory Hills Estates, has a small, cold-water pond and views into New Jersey. It extends close to Savantine Creek. Not trusting the federal government, he decided to cede the property to his hometown, Dingman. The two townships formed a five-man commission, where Dingman holds the majority, to oversee its use. Dingman also took on the planning responsibilities. In other business Tuesday, the supervisors noted a letter from Pike County Commissioner Harry Forbes asking the township if there are any issues they need to lobby for in Harrisburg and Washington. “We need more PennDOT money,” Mincer said in an open response to the letter. Township Secretary Karen Kleist asked if Mincer meant money for PennDOT in general and Mincer replied, ”We need more money for PennDOT in Pike County.” Mincer also said that Dingman needs money to repair two bridges on Log Tavern Road. One of them crosses Dwarfskill Creek and the other crosses Springbrook Creek Supervisors Vice-Chair Dennis Brink recalled that one of the bridges is already under contract. “As long as they’re doing one they ought to fix the other at the same time since the weight limits are the same.” Dingman Township Fire Chief Bill Mikulak had nothing to report on Emergency Services. He told the supervisors he’d be out of town for a few days as he is flying out to Nebraska to look at a ladder truck, priced at $200,000 and lower in cost than the one they have been looking at. Sewage Enforcement Officer Chris Wood reported that the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) is having a meeting on February 19 to clear the ambiguity surrounding their newly enacted planning module policy. Under the new planning module ruling townships have to set up a residential septic ordinance and until this is done no new residential building permits are to be issued.