The $946,690 total in the draft budget for Towamensing Township retains a 2-mill tax rate. The total amount for last year was $1,032,750.

It was tabled Dec. 4 because supervisors had just received the draft version and did not have time to review it.The earned income tax will be half of 1 percent. The real estate transfer tax will also be half of 1 percent. A local services tax is $10 and the per capita tax is $5.Garbage rates remain the same, though that was also tabled and may change. Rates are: single senior citizen, disabled veterans or active duty military will pay $105; senior citizen couple, $125; and family, $190.There were many mean-spirited phone calls because the garbage trucks had to turn back when the snow started Dec. 1. It is the same crew that plows snow and collects garbage. Supervisor Penny Kleintop said the garbage truck slips easily in bad weather, and there is a man standing on a small metal platform, which is also slippery, making it a safety issue.She said necessary roadwork such as snowplowing will always take precedence over garbage collection, and people would be paying much more if they were paying a commercial collection company, which they can choose to do.Tax collector Bruce Reiner said the tax office will be open the next two Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and will not be open Christmas or New Year's eves.Fire Chief Wayne Knirnschild said there have been problems with insurance following an accident involving a Lower Towamensing firetruck a year ago. He thought since the township pays for the insurance it should take the responsibility of straightening it out. Supervisor Guy Seifert told Knirnschild he was fire chief and it is his responsibility, though Seifert agreed to make a phone call.The tanker is at Kovatch's for repairs.A newly formed group, the Carbon Pipeline Alliance, was formed to try to stop construction of the PennEast Pipeline. Resident George White presented a copy of a resolution that he wanted the township to back. He said the object is not to move the pipeline away from members' property but to stop it totally.Seifert said they would have to work on recruiting because the township has to support what the majority of people want. There were only 24 people at the initial meeting.White said the application for the pipeline will go to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 1 and there is little time to get enough members or to hold a referendum. Twelve townships have come out against the pipeline with four of them working on resolutions.White said the Delaware River Basin Commission has finally been taking a hard look at the issue. Seifert said PennEast does not reply to phone calls, and there is plenty of open ground where they could go.The zoning ordinance draft and map needs a final vote recommending adoption by the planning commission and then it will go to the Carbon County Planning Commission and back to the supervisors.The use of fire police for the Black Bear Triathlon was approved for May 31.Chris Allen's request to use the soccer fields was approved.Seifert said the township has 70 miles of roads, and since the township wants to get roadwork on a 10-year cycle, that means seven miles will get worked on each year. The goal was missed by 2 miles for this year, however, because Owl Creek Bridge took much of the time and money.The Girl Scouts decorated the Christmas tree in the meeting room.The year-end meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 30. The reorganization meeting is 5 p.m. Jan 5 and will be followed by the regular meeting.