Schuylkill Township supervisors voted to keep the garbage collection fee at $172 for 2019. Currently, the fee collection brings in $86,499, and the actual bill from the collection company is just over $87,000.

Township Secretary-Treasurer Colleen Barrett said there is an additional one-time fee of $358 for printing and mailing the bills.

During the discussion, residents asked if the next garbage contract could possibly include curbside recycling in addition to the garbage collection. Supervisors said there is one more year on the contract and it would be re-evaluated at that time.

Supervisors also discussed a possible electronic recycling event with the other municipalities in the area, but a date and fees have not been finalized.

An Out with Litter Spring Clean Up is scheduled for all of Schuylkill County for April 25-27. Registration is due by April 15 and forms can be picked up at the township office.

Supervisors advised the public that West Nile virus monitoring may be conducted by the Schuylkill Conservation District throughout the township. Equipment will be tagged with the SCD information. Residents are also encouraged to report any dead bird findings to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s West Nile website.

The township has set the annual community yard sale date for June 22, with a rain date of June 29, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Supervisors adopted resolution 2019-2, the Schuylkill County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

There was also some follow-up on last month’s drone initiative. Barrett said the municipality’s insurance would not cover the drone that was donated for use by the township’s police department unless it was registered by the township through the FAA.

Currently, it is registered through the Tuscarora Radio Flying Club. If the drone were to be used, the township’s liability coverage would not extend to the drone.

Barrett and Police Chief Frank DiMarco said they will look into changing the registration to acquire the coverage.

A candidate for a part-time police position turned down the job, so the township is again looking for a part-time police officer.

The township’s burning ordinance was discussed, and it was noted that only wood may be burned in a pit designed for burning. Burn barrels are not to be used, and pits cannot be used to burn paper, garbage or cardboard.

Supervisors discussed a request from a property owner to open an auto repair shop at a property that had previously been used as a service station.

The township’s attorney said that although the location is currently not zoned for such a use, that’s because there was a prior use and there was never any intent to remove the previous use from the premises. He said it could be handled with a request for a certificate of nonconformance.