At the Thursday meeting of the Towamensing Township supervisors, Diane Conner, who lives on Sei Pike Road, said she is aware of the upcoming open house by PennEast about the natural gas pipeline but wanted to know if there is a way for residents to get more formal information before the Nov. 18 meeting at Aquashicola Firehouse from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Supervisor Penny Kleintop said they do not have any more information than the residents and that the information they receive keeps changing.Conner said she heard one property was surveyed without permission from the property owner. Except in an emergency, they are supposed to get permission to cross properties.She asked, “How should we trust them?”She also said the time slot for the open house is unsuitable for residents who may still be at work.Supervisor Tom Newman gave everyone a list of websites with information.Supervisor Guy Seifert said there is no way anyone can stop them. If they find it necessary, they will go to eminent domain.Conner said there are pockets of people against the project and asked how to get those people together.Kleintop said if the township room is available, they can use it for a meeting. Fire Chief Wayne Knirnschild said the fire hall would be available if the extra space is needed.Seifert said there are three or four pipelines already running through the township, including Bethlehem’s for water. Although the pipeline is not like a power line, the method of getting use of the land is much the same. He said a pipeline went through his father’s property, and they did a good job there.There is nothing in zoning, and until recently nothing could be but now it comes down to the public good.In other business: A zoning draft ordinance is being advertised. At 7 p.m. Monday, the planning commission will consider it at a public hearing.After that it will go to the Carbon County Planning Commission and then back to the supervisors for approval or rejection.Falling Creek Investments received the highway occupancy permit for the state police site. New waste oil heaters are needed for the garages. The cost will come from the building maintenance budget, which retains a healthy balance. Quotes were received, and the low was for $12,990 installed from PSM Waste Oil Combustion. It was also the only one of the three that offered a trade-in.Budget workshops open to the public are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday to provide a broad outline and give the secretary time to form a rough draft. A second meeting is then scheduled for Nov. 18, also 9-11 a.m.Supervisors need information from roadmaster Scott Mosier about what roads will be worked on in 2015 and equipment he may need before the workshops. Gary Mertz has offered his resignation as the IT person. The replacement will be on an as-needed basis instead of monthly visits. Three applications have been received, but more are being accepted. It was tabled.The Palmerton-Towamensing Athletic Association turned in an application to use the fields for the coming season. A tally on the cost of rebuilding Owl Creek Bridge shows a total cost of $87,673. Budgeted had been $150,000.“It is a beautiful job,” Kleintop said.The fire company will receive $36,354 in Firemen’s Relief funds that come from out-of-state insurances.