GROVE TOWNSHIP MARCH MEETING
July 10, 2024
Meeting called to order at 5:00pm
Present: Melvin Kehl, Robert Bushor, Brandie Sherry, and Jim Howard
Visitors: April Kehl, Dale Wood, Elizabeth Stoner, Hollie Gray, Dave Fees and Terri Cunkle Local Government Policy Specialist (DCED)
APPROVAL OF June 2024 MINUTES
- Motion made to accept by Robert Bushor and seconded by Jim Howard
- All in favor, aye, passed.
APPROVAL OF June TREASURER” S REPORT
- Motion made to accept by Robert Bushor and seconded by Jim Howard
- All in favor, aye, passed.
SECRETARY REPORT
The scrap metal that was gathered during the April large clean up day, brought in enough to cover the cost of the dumpsters and a check to us for $80.40.
I talked with the State Police considering the speeding through Driftwood and Sinnemahoning, they will have an increase police present in the Southern Cameron County area. To get the blinky speed limit signs we must contact the local PennDOT shed and ask them to bring them down. Daren also told Robert there is a special group that will do speed study and he can help get us in contact with them. After discussion it was decided to get a speed study done and go from there.
Linda Winkelvoss sent an email concerning if a septic permit had been issued for Garmen Road camp and feels the perk test was not done correctly, and also would like to know if the Township has any ordinances or permits needed to start a campground.
There was an email concerning a dangerous tree on Kephart lane. Melvin and Robert went up and looked at the trees and they were dead and could fall at any time. But the question is are they legal responsibility to cut down. Terri Cunkle stated that if the tree is over 6 inches, then we have to have property owner permission to cut the trees down, and it is only our responsibility after the tree falls on the road.
The annual County Association banquet will be held on August 7,2024 at the Elk Viewing Center and it starts at 11:00 and lunch is served at 1:00, We do this combined with Elk County because of our small turnout. Jim, Elizabeth, Dawn and I will be attending.
ROADMASTER REPORT
Signs are placed at all the bridges like the engineers had asked in the last inspection.
Melvin said we need to order a load of 2RC for repairs – Brandie will call and get them ordered.
Roadside mowing is done.
BUSINESS
The hourly rate has been raised, in order for our auditors to get this raise it must be done by a resolution then they do not get the increase until they are reelected.
Jim checked on the status of the blight letters that were written. Brandie has heard back from the Bumbarger’s, and they have contacted Russ Braun about a demo permit. Charles Snyder (Wykoff Run Rd) has reached out also about a demo permit, and Mary Vanderwall has reached out to me, we just have not been able to connect.
Jim would like to have letters written to Cadwell concerning the trailer on Park Road and a yellow camp in Miller Hollow that has not mowed grass in a while.
Jim asked if Brandie had learned any more about the agreement with Clinton County for the trading of road millings for our bridge decking. She stated that Daren said there was an agility agreement between our Township and Clinton County.
Elizabeth Stoner pointed out the Minutes from April 2023, discuss that a Resolution was passed for Robert Bushor to sign said agreement.
Brandie will look deeper into, and hopefully have more information for everyone at the next meeting.
Jim stated that we now have two fuel tanks and neither of them are dual tanks and if one was to spring a leak, we would contaminate the creek and the land and DEP and EAP would be all over us. He would like to see a metal containment box built around the tanks that would contain any leakage of fuel.
Jim was approached by someone who wanted to know why the Township does not maintain the cemetery on Herb Lane, off Wykoff Run Road. He did some research and there is a congressman buried over there. He said it is a total mess with a large pine tree down that has knocked some stones over, this will require a log truck to lift the tree up. He asked if maybe we could get a work party together to clean it up, and the Township provide hot dogs and hamburgers.
Brandie explained the township doesn’t take care of it because it is a privately owned cemetery.
Terri Cunkle replied that the Township cannot provide food for the work party because you need equal treatment across the taxation of the municipality. Not all the taxpayers will want to provide that service they may already pay for another cemetery.
Dale Wood suggested reaching out to a Rich Wykoff from Renevo to see if he knew who owned the cemetery and if there is an association for the cemetery.
Terri Cunkle is our local government specialist Governor’s center for local government services, she is here to tell us about what she can do for us.
DCED is where most of the grant money comes from, and applying through the single application process online is how it is done. North Central Planning Commission is great resource in helping municipality find the correct grants and polish up the grant application. Currently the DCED multimodal grant is open and will close on July 31st, PennDOT will open their multimodal in August through October. The LSA grant will be opening again. If you do not win apply again and again and again. There is a lot of money requested every year so it may take a couple of years to get rewarded. No FLUFF in the application they do not want to waste their time reading fluff. A great resource for what grants is open is the PSATS morning news.
There was some discussion about merging Townships and Boroughs in the County, this would have to be put on the ballot at election time and put to vote by the residents. Terri would help us with looking at the numbers to see if it would even make sense to combine.
She also suggested that we take money from our General and get it into a short-term high interest CD.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dale Wood asked if Frank Ross had turned in his financial interest form yet. Brandie stated no and that she had dropped the ball on calling him and reminding him it was needed.
Dale asked about the millings that were bought off muncibid and if it was true only municipalities were able to bid and not individuals, and if that was true how did Frank get his millings. Brandie explained that she understood that was agreement through Gibson and Frank for the use of his equipment to load and haul the millings, he would get so many of them.
He asked if we had gotten our Act 13 money for the gas wells, and actually it just was deposited in the bank accounts in the amount of $12,095.96.
Dale stated that last year we prepaid $6,000 for propane, that maybe this year something should be done to insulate the building so that so much propane is needed to heat the building.
Holly Gray asked if there is anything the Township can do about atvs, side by sides and snow mobiles being able to travel the roads to come to the business in the area. The biggest problem in our area is that none of the Township roads connect to allow travel and you would need a waiver from the State for the use of Route 120. She was advised to reach out to the local Representatives and Senators to get help with that.
Dave and Holly asked if they could use the parking lot across from the ball field for extra parking for the car show on June 13, and the music fest on August 3. There were no issues about that.
PAY BILLS AS PRESENTED
- Motion made by Robert Bushor, seconded by Jim Howard
- All in favor, aye, passed.
ADJOURN MEETING
- Motion to adjourn the July 10, 2024, meeting by Robert Bushor and seconded by Jim Howard.
- All in favor, aye, passed.
- Adjourned at 6:20
Next meeting will be held on August 14, 2024, starting at 5:00pm at Grove Township building.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandie Sherry
Secretary/treasurer Grove Township