Dawn Gorham, executive director of the Pocono Heritage Land Trust (PHLT), and Carol Hillis, (PHLT) volunteer, visited the Polk Township supervisors' meeting.

"We've done a great job of acquiring land, but a poor job of getting the word out to the people to let them know about it," said Hillis."We're here tonight to ask you to show us where the Open Space is in Polk Township and where the recreational areas are," said Gorham.The board pointed out the areas and explained which ones were accessible for hiking and fishing. One area the board hopes to attain grant money to turn into a bike trail and a soccer field someday.Gorham said that they are in the process of putting together a brochure that will show all the Open Space areas in Monroe County and to have that information also available on their website by this fall.Township engineer Russell Kresge said that the Dotters Corner Road culvert project was put on hold while waiting for the culvert, but there should be a bridge by Thursday, July 25. The board approved a change order for over-excavation charges of $920 and $700 when flooding to the area created issues. The board also approved payment of $59,385.74 to AIA for work done.Brian Ahner, Polk Township chairman/roadmaster, reported:• the road crew has completed paving designated roads;• the seal coating is done;• they replaced a pipe on Arnold Drive;• there was major flooding again on Middle Creek Road and Whitey B. Road. They filled in where it was washed out and he wants to get barriers for those roads. He spoke to the state about it and received a letter saying it wasn't their business. The PennDOT inspector has looked at those sites and Ahner is hoping something can be done;• line painting started on Saturday;• the prices are down on solid waste;• the stop sign recently erected at Rustic Road was removed after only three days;• the salt barn has been power washed and stained.Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Billy Tippet said the fire company responded to eight calls in June. He asked the board if Mill Pond Road was passable for fire trucks and was told by supervisor/secretary Nancy May said not to go on that road.Township zoning officer Gerald Zurat said:• there were 14 permits issued, 17 inspections, one permit pending, and four complaints were received in the month of June;• One certified letter was sent to a residence in violation of too much noise;• Another resident was in violation for building a deck and putting up an above-ground pool without a permit. The homeowner is still not in compliance and Zurat asked the board for permission to take the owner to court, which was approved, 3-0;• two trailers on Burger Hollow Road have been cleaned up after four years;• an old barn at the Jonas Hotel site has been removed and the property cleaned up;• the next planning commission meeting will be on Aug. 9.The board approved, 3-0:• with conditions, the Clark H. and Janet G. George lot joinder of property on Burger Hollow Road to make a single 7.4 acre lot.Pauline Brotzman inquired what she would need to do in order to subdivide her three-acre lot for her sister to build a residence on one acre of it. Kresge said the first thing she needed to do was have a surveyor draw up a plan.The owner of Vivian's Ice Cream truck, Vivian Lee Conte, would like to have permission to make stops in the township. Solicitor James Fareri said she would have to be more specific of what township roads she wants to visit.The supervisors received a letter from Ronald and Gloria Sidovar stating that sewage was being transferred to their property. Zoning officer Zurat said the sewage officer visited the property and said he found no sewage. The township will send the sewage officer's findings in a letter to the Sidovars.The Chestnuthill Township's 250th anniversary committee asked Polk Township if it would like to plant two American Chestnut trees. Chairman Ahner said he would ask Norm Burger, president of the committee, what trees would do best.The board adopted Resolution 2013-04, which gives permission for disposition for destruction of specific township records dating back as far as 1969.