Supervisors move on sewer and building renovations
The Antrim Township municipal building may undergo improvements next year, as agreed upon by supervisors Oct. 26. Members Rick Baer, Samuel Miller, Curtis Myers and Fred Young III, in the absence of James Byers, agreed to connect to public sewer and to explore ways to renovate the older building.
Administrator Brad Graham explained the choices for the sewer system - to connect to the private line of Greencastle Lube Center, take over ownership of that line, construct a new larger line to Route 16, or do nothing and continue with the septic tank system.
"Connecting to the Lube Center makes the most sense," said Myers. "It violates our ordinance, but government does that all the time."
In the past the board denied other requests by residentsand businesses to share a sewer line.
Myers moved, seconded by Baer, to hook on with a two-inch pressure line as an interim fix until development occurred in the nearby vacant field and all could share a lift station. It passed 4-0.
The fate of the municipal building came under review as Graham asked about its future. Miller wanted the renovation to wait so Hykes Road at the intersection of Williamsport Pike could be improved. He said the engineering was already done and he knew the intersection would be dangerous once Milnor was closed by Norfolk Southern. Even as the railroad company constructed a bridge on Hykes, he asked that at a minimum the east side from the tracks to U.S. 11 be widened and the base coat laid. The west could be completed after the bridge. The other supervisors were not interested until NS was finished with its project in 2012.
Baer and Young asked for estimates on renovations, rather than just cosmetic changes. When Graham said an architectural firm would conduct a study on the facility for $5,000, they said employees and contractors who had been in the building could decide what needed to be done. Young said the building would then be adequate and he hoped would last another 20 to 25 years.
"Should we build what we can for the revenue coming in, or use capital reserves?" asked Baer.
That issue was not discussed. The township had budgeted $350,000 for renovations in 2010 but did not proceed.
Other business
The sewer service area map, with split reviews on its value, came to a vote. Antrim Township Municipal Authority had created a map based on topography, but the Planning Commission and Miller opposed it, since it did not align with a proposed new zoning map. The PC wanted the sewer service area to preserve agricultural land and only enter areas that should be developed. Miller did not like the fact that the ATMA map put public sewer west of Grant Shook Road and along Conococheague Lane near Antrim Township Community Park.
Young said he liked adding sewer by a park, where people lived. Baer disagreed with that and Miller added none of them had complained in the past that they did not have the public service.
Young and Myers moved to accept the ATMA sewer service area map. It failed when Miller and Baer voted no.
Graham said another possibility was to take roads and property lines into account for a clear delineation for service. That would omit including just parts of properties, which was the case for the topographical map.
Graham announced that PennDOt had not approved Antrim's request to use grant money to overlay the Shared Use Trail and plant trees for screening, but the stormwater work at Conococheague Lane was OK.
Brinjac Engineering received the go-ahead to prepare a mandated report for DEP on nutrient compliance. The fee was $6,916. Graham said Antrim had already missed the deadline. Miller asked why.
"Because I'm not in here all the time," responded Baer, acting roadmaster/maintenance superintendent. The township hoped to fill the vacant position soon.
Antrim was notified results of the mail participation rates for the 2010 census. Nationally, 74 percent of households returned the forms on time, similar to 2000. In Pennsylvania it was 77 percent, in Franklin County 80 percent, and in the township 81 percent.