'Rash of breakins' reported in East Penn Township
Mary Nase told East Penn Township supervisors at their Monday meeting that her car had been broken into and the glove box opened. Nothing was taken.
She called the East Penn police and was told no one was available. She wanted to know when the police were available.Supervisor Herb Truhe said there has been a rash of breakins and the township has information about some individuals.Fifty-year resident Richard Zimmerman said the contractor did a good job tar and chipping. But he did not think the road was as bad as some others that should have had priority."Troxell Road has been failing for years. Try to correct the drainage. One-third of the road is missing. Why not fix it rather than a reasonably good road," he asked.Roadmaster Cory Smith said the township is seal coating some roads. Troxell will need a new base. Trucks are using Troxell and it will not get any better.An emphatic "no" was the reply when supervisors were asked if the burning ban was still on.Terry Terray reminded supervisors she had suggested large rocks be placed to protect the veterans' monument in case a vehicle would be out of control and hit it.She also thought there was going to be a good-looking building for the sewer pumping station, but what is there is ugly.Resident Joe Ehritz wondered if buying bagged ice might be cheaper than running the old ice machine which is noisy and inefficient.The AROCC horse training business was conditionally approved. However, any future development will require review by the supervisors as per the Municipalities Planning Code and township ordinance.Any development on the site will require a land development plan, said engineer Bruce Steigerwalt. He wanted a note on the plan to be filed so it can't get lost."Why are they testing for septics if there are no future plans," he asked.The Mary C. Pry major subdivision requested a waiver from rec fees. Supervisor Randy Pfeiffer asked why since there were fees on equivalent subdivisions.Basically it is a large tract of land with pieces cut off to enlarge neighbors' properties. There has been no sewer testing so there will be no building.When Bowmanstown comes up with a treatment price, East Penn can tell its residents the exact cost for sewer use.Supervisors voted to uphold the ordinance requiring every home be connected whether or not it is lived in. After Aug. 25 there will be a user fee for those who have not connected.Resident Don Steigerwalt asked what would happen if a contractor did not complete the work when he was supposed to. Truhe did not see that happening if the contractors wanted the job.The township has 3,272.5 acres in the Ag Security Area.Pfeiffer said he is in favor of recreation and supported the boat launch and D&L Trail, but is against proposed expansions. He said the area where ball fields were planned is in the flood plain. His objection to expanding the use is that so much of the use is by people outside the township and he does not think township residents should be paying to maintain fields for their use.Smith was authorized to sign contracts for winter traffic service with the state.Jonathan Emery and Truhe received fireworks permits - Emery for Aug. 14 and Truhe for Sept. 18.Pfeiffer asked why Truhe polled the board instead of just putting it on the agenda. Truhe said polling was done other years.