Atco Road issue resurfaces

By DAVID JACKMAN

DAMASCUS — At the Damascus Township meeting on August 20, residents expressed concerns over the November 1999 paving contract with Suit-Kote Paving. Suit-Kote, of Cortland, NY, was to recycle 1.7 miles of Atco Road at a cost in excess of $80,000, with the agreement that Damascus Township share stone material and some of the trucking costs incurred.

According to township attorney Richard Henry, the base may have been recycled too far below the surface. Suit-Kote is scheduled to submit a proposal by the next meeting, on September 17, detailing whether it will regrind or resurface Atco Road. “I don’t think it will be better than what we have now,” Henry said.

In addition, the paving contract states that Damascus Township is responsible for maintaining the road with a topcoat “wearing sealer.”

In other board matters, Supervisor Bill Gager announced that the Wayne Highland schools voted against a request from the township to increase the schools’ portion of the 1999-2000 realty transfer tax of $85,000. The tax is split in half between the township and schools. To date, the county and township received 35 and one-half percent from spring taxes, and the rest is portioned to the school board. Gager said he also provided letters from other municipalities including Oregon Township, and will continue to draft resolutions, and commented “monies are getting tighter.” The Wayne Highland school board meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 8:00 p.m.

A discussion about town zoning ordinances raised questions from concerned residents, and planning board member Jennifer Canfield said, “… There are people in office willing to dedicate their time to understand the [zoning] process better.” She said that purchasing a house is the single most important investment in someone’s life, and “the goal of the ordinances is to keep everyone’s property valuable, and to plan for the future.” The planning board meets on the second Thursday of the month, and she encourages residents to attend.

The supervisors also received letters from four applicants to fill a vacancy on the planning board. The applicants were: Kurt Gustafson, Kathleen Langley, Edward Dutton and Jeffrey Slocum. The board addressed all applicants’ letters and then held an executive session and elected resident Edward Dutton to fill the position. Damascus Town meetings are held on the third Monday of the month.