ATMA gives nod to Sheetz

Blasting will commence soon for the new Sheetz gas station on the southeast corner of Buchanan Trail West and Grindstone Hill Road. The Antrim Township Municipal Authority on June 28 gave approval to two companies seeking permission to dynamite rock prior to construction of the main facility, and to installation of underground fuel tanks.

Past practice has required contractors to video any sewer lines within 300 feet of the blasting, both before and after, to verify the integrity of the lines. Board members Chad Murray, Elwood Myers, Bob Schemmerling, Rodney Eberly and Bob Coladonato again mandated that action for the limited length of pipe that was not going to be replaced. They also required Sheetz to have a contingency plan in place if any damage did occur, as well as a three-day notice before the actual work began.

Following an executive session, the board gave approval to Tom Mongold's sewer plans for Heritage Estates West on Buchanan Trail West, with one stipulation. Because Antrim Township and developer Dan Sheedy were at odds as to the ownership of a sewer line on the adjoining Washington Farms property, ATMA ruled that the line must be dedicated to the township before a certificate of occupancy was issued for Heritage Estates West.

Mongold said he intended to tap into the line. He was not anxious to proceed with his development immediately but faced urgency because a stream crossing permit expired in 2011 and could be difficult to renew. He had been in contact with Sheedy. ATMA became aware of the discrepancy in ownership last September when attorney Paul Schemel spoke to the board on behalf of Sheedy. The line runs from Greencastle Greens through the Young farm to the pump station by Talhelm's Gas.

Schemmerling presented a copy of the final sewer service area map he and Coladonato had created. They will vote on it at the next meeting so that Brinjac Engineering can complete the Act 537 plan.

The board met in a second executive session to discuss the purchase offer of its water system by Greencastle Area Franklin County Water Authority.