Pearl Harbor Still Relevant:
'Never Let Our Guard Down'
By Ken Baumel
MILFORD — At the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in Milford Borough last Friday, Master of Ceremonies Greg Protsko said that the lessons learned from the attack on Pearl Harbor kept our nation safe and secure for nearly 60 years, but the 9/11 attacks taught us once again to "Never let our guard down."
Protsko, Commander of the Mountain Laurel 8612 VFW post, said, "Even while we enjoy an abundance of freedom, we are not exempt from danger. Pearl Harbor and September 11 proved [that though] our people [and resources] may be attacked, our enemies will never be successful in crushing our democracy or destroying the American way of life.
"Never forget. Those two words serve as a remembrance and a call to action as America commemorates the 77th anniversary of the 1941 [Imperial Japan's] attack on Pearl Harbor.
"On December 7, 1941, the United States of America would be forever changed. The attack tested the will of the American people like never before. It changed the course of history and [our] destiny. It was a day of tragedy, sacrifice, and heroism that united a nation; it was a day that lives in infamy."
Protsko asked that veterans, attendees, and the public take a moment to honor, remember, (and be inspired) by all who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice while fighting to preserve our nation's freedom.
Protsko noted that the Pearl Harbor attack left 21 ships sunk or damaged, more than 340 aircraft damaged or destroyed, and many lives lost. The ceremonies at Soldiers and Sailors monument on Broad Street and the subsequent wreath-tossing ceremony at Milford Beach honored and recognized the thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Marine personnel who perished during the Pearl Harbor ambush and in the turbulent war years that followed......For more information pick up a copy at a local vendor or subscribe.
Planning Commission Members Reappointed
By Dakota Hendricks
SHOHOLA — The County Commissioners reappointed Dennis Brink, Charles Burnett and Thomas Greiner to the Planning Commission.
Planning Director Michael Mrozinski discussed the FEMA Pike County Flood Map process, which has entered the comment period, lasting until January 3rd. The areas have been remapped according to a new process called LIDAR, which uses lasers to establish height. The new plans can be viewed at http://arcg.is/1zKi5G. Unless comments are submitted, the new plans will be accepted without revision.
The Commission discussed the creation of Milford Borough's Zoning Code briefly, with the expectation of further review at a later date. The Borough Code includes some new ordinances including a Smoke Shop ordinance requiring a 700-foot setback from any school, daycare or church.
The Commission also discussed a proposal by Arrump LLC for a new 3,500-square-foot restaurant going in next to the Roy Rogers in Westfall. The plans call for a restaurant with six employees and seating for up to 120 individuals.
Assistant Planning Director Jessica Yoder said The Wayne Trail Feasibility Study is under way for the possible expansion of trails into Lackawaxen. If complete, the rail trail would end in Hawley.
Yoder said the Pike Outdoors mobile app hit over a hundred downloads. The app provides a map of Pike County with detailed information of public lands, hiking trails, waterfalls and other outdoor activities.
Commission member Keith Raser reported that Commonwealth Health is in the process of moving into the region in order to handle the seven municipalities of Delaware, Dingman, Shohola, Milford Borough and Township, Matamoras and Westfall. The Commission believes the added EMS support will lessen the load on volunteer fire departments in the region....For more information pick up a copy at a local vendor or subscribe.
Lehman: No Tax Hike For 5th Straight Year
By Wayne Witkowski
BUSHKILL — During Tuesday morning's meeting, the Lehman Township Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a 2019 tax year budget that calls for no tax increase for the fifth straight year.
In a three-minute public hearing in which no township residents were in attendance, the board approved a total budget of $4,161,495, including a $3,063,263 General Fund.
The 6 mills General Fund millage rate holds, along with a .33 millage rate for emergency services.
"This is a good budget," said township Board of Supervisors Chairman Rob Rohner as he pointed out a $170,000 Fire Fund budget, a $103,865 Emergency Service Fund budget and $228,025 toward the Future Police Fund. The State Liquid Fuels Fund is $596,342.
The budget was increased by $37,829 over last year.
Rohner pointed out, when asked, that the township is not allocating for 2019 a stipend for members of the Bushkill Volunteer Fire Company, which had been considered in recent months and discussed at a previous meeting.
Other townships in Pike County also are considering paying stipends to help retain firefighters and encourage others to join, and a few have approved the idea for their 2019 budgets.
"We have our Fire Fund and we picked up the balance of $19,500 toward roof repair of the firehouse from storm damage that was not completely covered by insurance," said Rohner, who said the township also was paying an additional $10,000 to cover emergency costs for the fire department.
Tax collection was recorded at $1,913,879. Highway funds cost $1,348,841. Recreation funds total $307,480.
Also at the meeting, Lehman Roadmaster Tim Rohner was appointed to the Pike County Road Task Force. The board also approved resolution No. 337 to extend its Blue Ridge Communications franchise agreements.
Also at the meeting, Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin made a presentation asking for an allocation to go toward a county Drug Task Force detective on enforcement against illegal drug transportation and selling. The deputy sheriff will work with three other salaried deputies who concentrate more on other areas of enforcement.
Sunrise Lake Section 9 Heads In New Direction
By Dakota Hendricks
DINGMAN — Jim Ott of Sunrise Lake Section 9 presented to the Board an alternative system the residents of Section 9 would like to pursue.
Due to the sheer cost of the previous plan, Section 9 would like to restart the Site A sewer facility to handle half the residents and install a 15-20 thousand-gallon holding tank to handle the other residents. The holding tank would require pumping and hauling of waste roughly every two weeks with an estimated cost of installation at roughly $35-50,000 with an annual fee of roughly $73,000 a year for waste removal.
Zoning Officer Chris Wood and Supervisor Chairman Thomas Mincer expressed several concerns with the proposal. Wood questioned the feasibility of long-term pump and haul operations, and Mincer was concerned about restarting the Site A facility, as the system is already 38 years old.
The Board said that to consider the proposal fully, they would require estimated cost, construction timetable, fail-safe procedures, DEP involvement, and the formation of a legal entity with officers that the Board could enter an agreement with.
They would also require some form of guarantee of funding for the continued hauling of waste. The Board expects to further review these issues at the January 22, 2019 meeting.
The Supervisors postponed review of the stalled development issues at the Preserve at Milford Hills until the next meeting, pending arrival of an engineer report and the establishment of a timetable requirement for repairs.
The Board approved the 2019 Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department initial Fundraising Calendar. The Supervisors expect there will be further additions as the year progresses.
The next Dingman Township Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on December 18.