Citizens’ committee divvies up bond $

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA — A committee of prominent citizens recommended that $2 million of the proposed $10 million bond issue be spent on planning with the remaining $8 million to be spent on land acquisitions and easements.

The ad hoc committee made its recommendations to the Pike County Commissioners at its meeting on September 21. The bond issue, entitled the Pike County Rural Character Preservation Bond, will be put before the voters on November 8.

“The main focus of this funding is on planning,” said Commissioner Rich Caridi. “Both the county and our townships need to do effective planning to meet the challenges of an additional 75,000 residents that are expected to come here in the next 10 to 20 years.”

The planning segment would fund the implementation of the county’s new comprehensive plan, expansion of the planning department’s staff and technical assistance to the townships to develop comprehensive plans.

“This will also include money for the county’s development of a Geographic Information System (GIS) that is an important and vital instrument for any kind of effective planning,” said Tom Zeterberg, ad hoc committee chair.

Assistance to the townships would provide funding for their planning efforts, including development of regional open space, greenways and recreational plans, an ordinance update and the encouragement of multi-municipal planning with neighboring townships, Zeterberg said.

“This measure leaves important land use decisions at the local level.” said Keep Pike Green Campaign Chairperson Peter Pinchot.

Land acquisitions and easements

“Lands to be protected are significant open spaces identified in the county’s open space plan, including park and recreation lands, greenways, scenic and historic landscapes,” Zeterberg said.

Lands to be acquired are land deemed important for water quality or drinking water and significant natural areas, including wildlife habitats, lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and scenic ridges, he said.

“It includes the purchase of development rights from willing land owners or from farmers,” he said.

The cost of the bond issue to residents would be approximately one mill of tax or $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed valuation, Zeterberg said.

The governing board

The ad hoc committee recommended that the commissioners appoint a nine-member Pike County Scenic Rural Character Preservation Board, with a broad county representation and diverse backgrounds to administer and implement the programs funded by the bond. They suggested that one member be appointed from municipal government, Pike County Planning Commission, Pike County Conservation District, real estate and building industries, Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Pike County Vacation Bureau or other tourism organizations and private land trust conservancy or other conservation organizations.

Matching funds

Zeterberg was enthusiastic that the money from the bond could be maximized with matching funds from state, federal and other funding sources

“Based on our research in other counties that have taken this route—like Monroe County—we can realize close to another $20 million in other grants. The exact figure is $19 million,” he said.

Some opposing voices

A few citizens questioned the need for the bond issue.

“Pike County has an awful lot of open space now, like the state lands,” said realtor Stan Tashlik. “It’s misleading to the public to say we need more open space. You shouldn’t be making statements that we won’t have any open space. We have 50 percent of our land open already.”

“That’s not true,” said Cindy Wildermuth, a member of the committee and a realtor. “The county’s open space is 32 percent. A large number of townships have no protection on the state lands that exist around them. Not many of them have protection of the streams and wetlands that impacts on water resources and drinking water.”

The recommendations that the committee made to the commissioners are not binding, Zeterberg said.