The tar and chip project on four roads in Walker Township is complete, as is the vacuuming and cleaning up of loose stones on those roads. Now, township officials are looking to work on an additional road.

The main project had tar and chip done on areas of Mountain, Valley and Catawissa roads, and Shady Lane.

Now the township plans to tar and chip Reynolds Road, in the area of the Zion United Methodist Church and north. The exact length and the start date have not been set.

“We want to try to do it this year yet,” Council President Craig Wagner said.

Wildcat Park

The Wildcat Park project was started last month, and the tennis and basketball courts were sealed and new lines painted on them.

“We also now have a pickleball court,” Wagner said.

Costs for the park include $87,000 annually for Wildcat debt repayment and $140,000 for the seal coat project.

Hazardous Mitigation Plan

Walker is being asked to share with other Schuylkill County municipalities anything that could pose a hazard in an emergency.

“We put a list of places together and submitted it,” Wagner said. “Places like copper and chemical plants, anything with large tanks, anything with large animal populations.”

Roadmaster Chad Felty attended the third meeting of the committee that consists of representatives from throughout the county.

“Some of them had issues related to weather,” Felty said. “Flooding, snowstorms and the cleanup afterward. Some places also deal with blighted properties and opioid overdoses.”

The last Hazardous Mitigation Plan for Schuylkill County was done in 2019.

“With these meetings, they want to see if any of the issues are being addressed,” Felty said. “They want to see what problems we might see and what we are doing about them.”

All data is sent to FEMA which will compile the new plan.

According to FEMA, the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant provides funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses.

“Hazard mitigation” is any sustainable action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from future disasters.

“All area communities are encouraged to join the plan,” Wagner said. “If you don’t join, and an emergency happens and financial aid is to be dispersed, you don’t get any funds if you don’t belong to the plan.”

Another plow

Supervisors voted to approve the purchase of a second used truck on MuniciBid.

“Another truck became available to the township on MuniciBid from Pine Township, near Pittsburgh,” said Supervisor Kent Heisler.

The latest purchase is a 2006 International 4x4 snow plow. The truck is similar to one purchased last month. This one, however has an automatic transmission, versus the 6-speed manual on the earlier one. Both trucks came with plows.

The cost of the second truck is $28,100, plus $2,619 buyer’s fee, for a total of $30,719.

Fire calls

Felty gave the monthly report for the New England Fire Company.

For September 2023, there were four calls. Two “tree down” calls, an off-road rescue, and a medical assist call.

The chicken barbecue was held Sept. 16. Felty reported that they sold 550 dinners.

“I’ll call it a success,” Felty said.

On Nov. 4, The Majestics will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. at the New England Fire Co, 7 Miller Lane, Tamaqua. Doors open at 6 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Call for tickets.

The fire company will hold burger dinners in October and November, and will have lottery raffles as well at both. In December, they will hold a gun raffle. Exact dates, times, and costs were not available.

Call 570-640-6009 or 570-668-4902 for information on any of the fire company events.