A regional police force does not look like it's going to be a viable option for the residents of Schuylkill Township. Wednesday night, supervisors reviewed the recently released results of the regional police study that was done in conjunction with Tamaqua, Coaldale, West Penn, and Walker townships.

The proposed budget for Schuylkill Township would exceed the total amount that is currently being collected in tax money from the residents."It would be $142,266 per year," said Supervisor Linda DeCindio. "We only bring in around $125,000 in taxes now. It would wipe us out. There is no way we can afford the cost."DeCindio added that the township has been working with Chief Jesse Zimmerman on a part-time basis and that will continue."We have the lowest crime rate out of all the ones in the study," she said.Supervisors did get some good news. The old Mary D ball field will be the new site of a series of retention ponds to help scrub mine drainage from the area. The project is being undertaken by the Schuylkill Headwaters Association and was presented to the supervisors last night by project engineer Christine Haldeman, from Rettew."The system we're proposing is going to consist of four ponds," she said. "The first will be a settling pond to spread the water out, the second will be a wetlands area, the third will be a treatment cell filled with limestone to help bring the pH up. The last pond will be a flushing pond to flush iron settlement to keep that viable."Everything will return back to the river, once it's treated," she added.Haldeman added that flooding in the area of Sanderson Street and Sunny Drive should be alleviated, as the project will also include the installation of 12-inch pipe, which will increase the capacity for water flow down into the stream."It should decrease the flooding occurrences that are happening now," she said. "It may not eliminate them entirely, but it should improve."Haldeman said the project is currently going through the permitting process. She hopes it will be ready to put out for bids by November and that construction will be able to start in the spring. DeCindio said the project is "great news" for the township.In other business, several residents voiced complaints about noisy neighbors. According to Zimmerman, residents have been following the proper procedures and reporting and documenting the incidents. However, he said once they are cited, if they pay their fines, there is not much more he can do. He encouraged residents to keep making the reports.Supervisor Christine Verdier announced the township has been audited for their implementation of the state grants they have received and everything was found to be in order.The supervisors passed an ordinance which raises the garbage late fee from $5 per month to $20 per month and includes an additional $10 to cover attorney fees. Township secretary Mary Bubel said there are currently 30 people who have made no effort to pay their garbage bill. The total amount still due is $7,220. These delinquencies are being turned over to the district magistrate.They also passed an ordinance to install two stop signs at the corners of Valley and Emerich roads and Valley and Firehouse roads in Brockton. Supervisor Charlie Hosler was opposed to that motion.Bubel requested that residents of Tuscarora who have had problems with their water lines send letters to the township to support the township's CDBG application."It's important that we get something from the residents," she said. "If you live in Tuscarora, just write us a plain letter, nothing fancy."