Area farmers will be encouraged to attend a daylong seminar on Dec. 9 at Shady Maple Restaurant to learn more about the benefits of no till farming.
East Earl Board of Supervisors chairman Dave Zimmerman said plans are still being put together for the program. Included in the seminar will be informative material on how to better protect water wells. Agencies providing input will be the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Pennsylvania Rural Water Association, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Lancaster County Conservancy.
The program is aimed to reach out to residents of Earl and East Earl Townships, and New Holland and Terre Hill Boroughs.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is pressuring all municipalities in Pennsylvania to establish stricter regulations on storm water control, said Zimmerman. Many counties have been working on it. The proposed Lancaster County ordinance was sent to the DEP and came back with no exemptions permitted.
‘It is called the dog house ordinance,’ Zimmerman said. They are asking for an exemption for storm water control for buildings under 1,000 square feet in size.
Storm water management plans were reviewed for Alvin Zeiset, Moses Sensenig, Martin Brubaker, Harvey Hoover, John Ebersol, Bryan Lefever, Bernard Osga and Michael Good.
The developers at Blue Ball Commons were granted a time extension of 91 days, good until Jan. 13.
During September, the East Earl Police Department received 121 calls for service. Eleven traffic accidents were investigated and there were 30 criminal investigations, said Chief of Police Kevin McCarthy. There were 19 calls for service from Terre Hill Borough and there were 13 criminal investigations. The department issued 63 citations and 10 individuals were arrested for crimes codes violations.
McCarthy said he wants to hire Jonathan Zaun back into the East Earl Police Department. Zaun had previously worked in East Earl but left to join the Cocalico Police Department closer to where he lives. He was praised as an outstanding police officer.
McCarthy said Terre Hill borough council voted to continue police coverage with the East Earl Police Department for 2014. Costs were discussed.
Zimmerman said the road crew is replacing bent road sign posts and faded street signs.
Zoning Officer Shaun Seymour said in September he issued 40 permits with a value of $813,179. For the permits, $6,352.50 in fees was collected. Three permits were renewed and 24 occupancy permits were issued. Seymour said he is closely following up on zoning violations. There were many calls about the sale of 505 acres of woodland by the New Holland water Authority on Sept. 28. He has provided copies of the East Earl logging permits and requirements to two applicants who plan on cutting trees along Reservoir Road.
The annual safety training session for members of the police department, the road crew, supervisors, water and sewer inspectors, employees at the township maintenance garage and office staff is being held at the police department on Oct. 21. The training is mandatory, said Zimmerman. A discount in insurance is provided for the close attention to safety precautions.
The Lancaster County Conservancy has been able to preserve 906 acres in the Welsh Mountains for public use, said Kate Gonick. She thanked those who made contributions to help with the purchase. Permits are being sought to construct a parking area for the public. Spaces will be available for the handicapped and for horse trailers.
Gonick said since 2011 the Conservancy has been working to secure the lands which are important to the watershed. They were unsuccessful in raising enough funds for to purchase any of the 505 acres auctioned off on Sept. 27.
‘We have not given up,’ she said. ‘We are talking to all of the buyers to purchase all or part of the land.’
Resident Jack Singletary complimented Gonick on her efforts to purchase the land at the auction.
East Earl now has three wells which provide public water, said Zimmerman. The Water Source Committee meets monthly. A hydrologist will be hired to evaluate another well to determine how much water would be available.
In September, the Zoning Hearing Board denied an application, continued two and granted an application, said Zimmerman. On Oct. 21 the Z.H.B. is considering an application for a manure pit to be closer than the 500 foot required set-back from the property line.
Kelcie Robbins of Cedar Lane Heights asked for speed bumps to be placed on roads to slow traffic. A speed monitoring device has been placed there.
The Volunteer Fire Relief Association has an allocated sum of $51,932.75 to be split equally between the Garden Spot Fire Rescue and the Weaverland Valley Fire Departments.
A public hearing was held for the vacation and relocation of a section of Rancks Church Road and the rezoning of several parcels nearby. Township Solicitor Frank Nicerelli said the relocation of the road is for the safety of the property owner, whose barn and house is very close to the right of way. The rezoning of some parcels will satisfy the intentions of Twin Springs LLC to settle on an industrial tract of 43 acres. The plans had been finalized by Fry Engineering on Sept. 26, 2012. The acreage owned by Twin Springs LLC spans both sides of Rancks Church Road behind the Susquehanna Bank office on Route 23. The 90 degree turn on Rancks Church will be eliminated and there will be several small lot ad-ons for agricultural use.
Supervisor Earl Kreider said the improvements are great for safety. Attorney Kaitlin McGinnis pointed to each tract involved on a map. Approval was granted. It is the last step in the process.
