West Nantmeal Township Board of Supervisors discussed gas lines, road conditions and waste water management during the March 10 meeting.
‘People from the pipeline have been going around the township,’ said Bob Sautner, road foreman. ‘They are surveying for easements on possible new gas lines. The location of the gas lines is in the area of Yoder and Millard Roads.’
‘They are doing maintenance on existing pipelines,’ said Susan Ward, township secretary/treasurer.
‘Previously, oil was being sent from Trainor to Pittsburgh and now gas will be sent from Pittsburgh to Trainor,’ said April Barkasi, Township Engineer.
‘The roads have been holding up well,’ said Elston. ‘We can do the road inspection in early April or as soon as the snow melts.’
Conditions on Sweetwater Road were discussed. Sweetwater Road is actually the old Route 23 east of Elverson, south of the present Route 23. ‘It is part of the road system,’ said Ward. ‘It should be plowed.’
Supervisor Nelson Beam thanked the Road Crew for their dedication.
Regarding waste water management, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will ultimately pass a decision in the ongoing concerns with Michael Kerr’s proposed waste water management system said Township Attorney Kristin Camp.
‘No stream discharge is allowed for new residential dwellings,’ said Barkasi. ‘It is a system that can be used but only in certain situations.’ An example is a hospital.
‘If they know they cannot discharge into a high quality stream, why do they persevere?’ asked Ward.
In other news, a six month extension was granted to Hammell/O’Donnell to advance plans at the industrial area off of Chestnut Tree Road in the southern area of the township. Route 82 rents was granted a three month extension for subdivision planning.
Camp said tax exempt properties cannot be levied against for funds to be used for fire protection or training for volunteer firemen.
Regarding the park, Dave Mast, said, ‘By the end of March or early April we will clean off the area where the new playground equipment will be located. As soon as the snow is gone, we will clean up the entire park.’
The board also talked about the winter weather.
‘A lot of townships had a lot of problems in the recent snowstorms,’ said Barclay Hargreaves, Emergency Management Coordinator. ‘After the Feb. 5 ice and snow storm, there were 109,000 customers in Chester County without power for 72 hours. Most were PECO users. There were about 450 county roads closed, blocked or partially blocked by fallen trees or branches. It took a week to get it cleaned up. Pumpkin Hill Road was the only one closed in West Nantmeal Township. There were about 600 PP&L customers without power for 48 hours.’
‘Situation awareness and communication is important,’ said Hargreaves. ‘Cooperation between the fire companies, the State Police and the Emergency Services is essential. The Road Master did a great job. The Road Crew assisted Honey Brook Township.’
During the snow storm from Feb. 12 to 14, about 80 PP&L customers were without power for 24 hours said Hargreaves.
