SHOHOLA, PA — General housekeeping was the theme of the night for the outstanding issues facing Shohola Township at the municipal government meeting on September 11.

A new Verizon cell tower has been approved to be built in Shohola in the area of Parker’s Glen/Woodtown Road. A letter of approval will be sent out with only a few issues left to hammer out. Environmental issues have already been addressed. Road maintenance and stormwater drainage are expected to be settled with little issue. A Verizon representative was present at the meeting and concurred with this assessment. This is guaranteed to improve cell reception in the area, which is known for having little to none in most areas. No completion date was given.

Accepting the lowest bid on a much needed salt shed proved to cause a few complications. The best bid placed was $73,390 dollars. Supervisor Greg Hoeper deemed this number too high and raised several other possible methods of eliciting lower bids, but secretary Diana Blume said Hoeper’s recommendations could not be accepted.

She said protocol was followed, with advertisements placed in all the usual papers, and this was the best offer. It is against regulations to even appear to approach other contractors for a lower bid. There is a $5,300 difference between this bid and what had been budgeted, but Blume argued that the time is growing short, and that having this built quickly is the priority. She said wasting time in this situation will lead to a continued loss of funds.

The project will be handled by CB Structures, Inc. located in New Holland, PA, the same company that erected the pavilion in Rohman Park. While the end results of the pavilion were satisfactory, there were apparently multiple issues that arose during the building that required resolution, one of the reasons for Hoeper’s resistance to accepting the bid. The existing plans for the structure call for it to be constructed with wood and metal sides and either a steel or aluminum roof and concrete floor. The bid was accepted on a motion by Supervisor Keith Raser.

Hiring a new part-time police officer is a priority for many in the township. At this time, two or three candidates are being interviewed by the current police force. While many feel hiring this officer should be done as quickly as possible, Officer Donald Roa and Police Chief Scott Carney emphasized that the man hired needs to be an individual who fits in with the community at large and the two existing officers. Next year’s budget has already been adjusted to cover compensation for this new job.

Milford sent a letter to Shohola noting the possible need for a traffic light at the intersection of Route 6 and Twin Lakes Road. However, since this is merely a suggestion put forward by Milford Township, Shohola is free to make its decision on its own, and this was done quickly. The motion not to install a light at this intersection was quickly approved by the board.

Walker Lake residents had complaints regarding a derelict house abandoned on Iroquois Road. Condemning the house is a consideration, and a letter is being sent to the owner regarding this possibility by attorneys.

While the Parks Commission generally has had good news to report over the recent years, at this meeting the news was not so positive. Individuals have been allowing their dogs off leashes at the park and this has resulted in dog feces being found imbedded directly in the cedar chips that surround the children’s play area. This situation is unsanitary, and action will be taken if dog owners do not begin to clean up after their pets.

A complete ban on dogs in the park is not off the table if the situation does not improve immediately. Dog owners must take responsibility for the sanitary removal and disposal of their dog’s waste. Residents are requested to make the park commissioners aware if they note dog owners who do not clean after their dogs and, if the owners are unknown to them, to give the best description of owners, dog(s), car and license plate if able.

The repairs of Shohola Falls Road continues to face potential problems. At approximately the same time that the local road reparations are scheduled, PennDot plans on replacing utility poles. Township officials want a guarantee that any damage done to the new blacktop on the road by PPL trucks will be attended to by that organization. The road will be closed from now until at least Thanksgiving; school bus routes will be affected, and individuals may need to alter their commuting routes.

Finally, Shohola Fire and Rescue has a new truck that specializes in fighting fires in areas that are both heavily wooded and developed. Heavy arms to handle large tree branches will also be purchased and installed. Considering that winter is coming and house fires tend to erupt because of electric heaters and wood heating stoves, this a very welcome addition to the force and will likely save both property and, more importantly, lives.