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Caernarvon man to monitor landfill
BY ADAM HOY, Correspondent
Eastern Lancaster County residents will be happy to know that someone is keeping a watchful eye on property values surrounding the Lanchester Landfill.
On Feb. 4, Joel Martin, who was appointed by Caernarvon Township supervisors to serve on the Chester County Solid Waste Authority, spoke about his appointment during a work session prior to the supervisors meeting.
Martin expressed interest in creating a job description for his position to make sure that he knows "exactly what needs to be done so I can hold myself up to those requirements, which is how I can properly evaluate myself."
He touched on three main topics that he would like to focus on while on the board: health and safety, nuisances and property values.
His discussion on health and safety measures was straight forward, speaking specifically about measures concerning leachate treatment and methane gas emission.
The nuisances he touched on included odors, debris, rodents and general appearance. Martin also cited a study from Penn State relating the visibility of landfills to lower property values and mentioned that he was very interested in looking into similar studies.
Martin posed questions to the supervisors, letting them know what he will be looking for as he begins creating a job description. Topics he suggested ranged from township and landfill agreements to the lifespan of the landfill.
"I'm concerned, as all Caernarvon Township residents are," Martin said. "I would like to continue improving the township."
"I'm glad that we are receiving such great cooperation from the CCSWA," said supervisor Gary Van Dyke.
Martin replaced Bill Shirk, who served on the CCSWA's board for over 20 years.
In other news:
n Van Dyke opened a discussion on the topic of building a sewage pumping station that would service Churchtown and Goodville. He mostly wanted to gauge the reactions of residents as well as the other supervisors.
Van Dyke said Caernarvon was approached by Connie Gross, East Earl Township's secretary/treasurer, about the possibility of a joint venture in building a pumping station to operate between the two townships.
One resident thought it would be a waste of the taxpayers' money to spend millions of dollars on something the township doesn't necessarily need because of on-lot sewage systems.
According to the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority's website, "In some parts of the Commonwealth, particularly rural areas, it may be more cost-effective for individual home owners to use their own on-lot sewage disposal systems rather than incur the high costs of constructing long collection lines to service widely scattered properties."
Van Dyke said, "We need to be a little restrictive with rural areas, but we also want to promote cooperation between the townships and the (Department of Environmental Protection)."
n Jim Cox, vice president of the Elanco Library board of trustees, provided residents with an update on the library.
The library's annual dinner and auction raised $50,000 for the library. The library also is looking into additional fundraising activities to supplement decreased funding from state and municipal sources.
A permanent book swap was set up at the New Holland Coffee Company. The library hopes to also place one in the Old Bakery Shop and Deli in Churchtown.
There were a few comments from the residents and supervisors jokingly debating whether a bookshelf would fit in the shop. "Well, it probably won't be very big," Cox admitted.
n John Roche, township engineer, will be writing and sending a letter to David K. Smucker, of 167 Water St., concerning his storm drain entering the township's right-of-way at his property line and causing a heavier than normal amount of water to flow to his neighbor's property.
n Supervisors reported the Chester County Solid Waste Authority donated $10,000 to the Caernarvon Fire Company.
For more Elanco area news, visit:
MyElancoNews.com
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