Christine Meinhart, senior planner of Monroe County Planning Commission invited Polk Township to join the Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Chestnuthill, Jackson, Eldred and Ross townships region (CJER).

As stated in The Joint Comprehensive Plan for the CJER Region, "The Plan is a means granted to local governments by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by which participating communities may work together to create a vision of what they want to become and how they intend to achieve that vision. Surrounding communities are changing as well. This Joint Comprehensive Plan will help to anticipate change, to identify community goals, and to examine local resources. It will provide the guidance that allows a higher degree of control in how change occurs in the CJER Region."The townships have prepared individual comprehensive plans in the past. This Joint Comprehensive Plan was initiated because of the recognized need to update and examine 1-1 overall planning for the area in light of development trends and pressures in the Region, and to determine common goals and objectives for land use.""Basically, our comprehensive plan hasn't been reviewed in over 35 years," Polk Supervisor Chairman Brian Ahner said.Meinhart said it would cost the township around $3,000. The Joint Comprehensive Plan would be amended to include Polk and the other townships would have to amend their comprehensive plans to include Polk.The board was told that money was available for Polk to join. The board voted 3-0 in favor of joining.Chairman/roadmaster Ahner reported that the township's Ford four wheel drive's transmission went. It cost approximately $4,300 to be repaired. He said this was the third time the truck has had transmission problems. The township uses it for plowing. He said that they will look into replacing it next year.In his roadmaster report, Ahner said, "The winter's small storms are killing us. We purchased 250 tons of salt and we have 250 tons more coming. That's on top of the 80 tons we already had."Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company Fire Chief Billy Tippitt said the fire company responded to 17 emergency calls in February. He thanked the township for having the roads cleared, making it easier for them to respond to the calls.Tippitt said that the fire company members needed to get hepatitis B vaccines and they were asking the township to cover the cost. Canvassing the area, it was determined that Dr. Varano would be able to provide the vaccines, which is done in a series of three, at the lowest cost of $190 per person. There would be 26 members at the most who would be receiving it, for a total of $4,945.20. The board approved, 3-0, to pay for the vaccines.Supervisor/secretary Nancy May stated that the Pennsylvania Game Commission would be holding Hunter/Trapper classes at Indian Mt. Rod and Gun Club on April 6 and 7.The township's zoning/codes officer, Gerald Zurat reported:• solid waste permits for 2013 are now available• he has sent in the form for flood reimbursement and is hoping to receive $2,300, which would cover the township's flood damage costs.• requested a 2013 SEO fee schedule, saying the last time it was worked on was 2011. It was tabled after Ahner suggested they should get together to work on it and see if it could be resolved in the near future.The board approved, 3-0:• Thomas and Denise Sedorchuk lot combination plan.• to advertise for the public hearing of the township flood plain ordinance and the SALDO Appendix F on Monday, March 25 at 6:45 p.m.Ahner said that the 250th Chestnuthill Township Anniversary Committee asked Polk Township if it would be able to make a donation to the committee for expenses for the upcoming celebration. If there would be any excess after the Sept. 7-8 events, it would be returned to the townships. (Chestnuthill Township was formed in 1783 and later broken into four separate townships of Chestnuthill, Eldred, Ross and Polk.) The board discussed it and agreed to table the issue at this time.Russell Kresge, township engineer, said the township would be receiving bids for the Dotters Corner Road culvert project at the next meeting on Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m.