The Rolling Hills Landfill in Earl Township is proposing to expand its facility by 90 vertical feet and recently sought the support of the Oley Township supervisors.
The long-rumored expansion proposal was made by Delaware County Solid Waste Authority Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph W. Vasturia at the supervisors’ Feb. 10 meeting. The DCSWA owns and operates the landfill.
Vasturia told the supervisors that the landfill, which takes a majority of its bulk in incinerated trash, or ash, currently has 11 years of life remaining. Vasturia is seeking the township’s approval before going before the Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission, who will have the final word in the expansion.
The last expansion of the landfill was made in 1990, raising the height limit to 884 feet. Currently the landfill stands at 870 vertical feet, bringing it in clear view of Oley Township. At the time of the 1990 expansion, the Authority received approval from the township to raise the vertical height.
Vasturia said the 90-foot expansion would add nearly three years of life to the facility.
But after reviewing computer-generated photos of the proposed expansion, Chairman Jeffrey A. Spatz told Vasturia that the board would be unable to make a decision without input from township residents. ‘Because of its impact on the Valley, the residents need to have a say,’ Spatz said.
Spatz proposed a public hearing be held at the Oley Fair Center on Jefferson Street. That meeting, which will be publicly advertised, is slated to be held sometime in April or May.
In other business, road master Duane Howard told the supervisors that recent storms had dwindled the township’s salt stockpile to between 125 and 150 tons.
Calling it a ‘critical problem,’ Howard said the township had been cutting back on its salt application by approximately 10 to 15 percent in recent storms. Howard said a delivery is scheduled but would not be received before the next forecasted storm.
Spatz, in stressing the ‘thankless job’ of the road crew during storms, urged residents to exercise patience and reminded them of township ordinances regarding the removal of snow from streets, sidewalks and fire hydrants.
Supervisors also declared a snow emergency effective immediately in order to clear snow piled at township intersections.
Fire Chief Todd Kegerise told the supervisors that he is actively seeking volunteer firefighters who are available during daytime hours. Kegerise said several calls had recently been missed due to lack of manpower.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Kegerise at 610-987-6363 or OleyFire@OleyFire5.com.
Kegerise also told supervisors that the fire company and ambulance crew had recently received state grants totaling $13,619 and $7,091, respectively.
