CLEARFIELD – Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, the Lawrence Township Supervisors held two public hearings regarding conditional use of property for timbering.
The conditional use for Rorabaugh Lumber Co. was approved during the regular meeting. The property being timbered is owned by Appalachian Wood Products and the timbering will be on approximately 20 acres of 25.9 acres.
The access will be on township road 605 (Industrial Park Road). The planned dates for timbering are July 1 through Aug. 31.
The other hearing was for property owned by the Pennsylvania and Ohio Rod & Gun Club by Scott Carts Forestry. The timbering would be on 100 acres of 915 acres and the access road is T-611 (Pifer Road). The scheduled dates are July 1 through Oct. 31.
The only person to speak on the matter was Glenn Johnston, who lives on Pifer Road. He noted the township’s history of dealing with lumber companies “has been terrible.”
He pointed to the timbering off of Flegal Road and how bad the road was afterwards, and the supervisors did not insist on repair to the road utilizing the bond. Johnston said the township ended up using its own money for repairs.
Johnston then reminded the supervisors that he personally worked to reconstruct part of the road and spent his own money to do it, and he is concerned trucks will tear the surface up.
“If you guys give my work away … I’ll be seeing red,” he said. Johnston added he spoke with the township roadmaster who didn’t seem to understand what a road bond was for, which is to guarantee road repairs will be done. “Don’t give that away, get it repaired.”
Code Enforcement Officer Debra Finkbinder said the road bond was renewed by Aaron Rowles for Flegal Road and there will be a bond for Pifer Road. Supervisor Chairman Randy Powell added he wasn’t aware of the situation and would look into it.
During the regular meeting, Scott Carts stated his family’s reputation is on the line, and he spoke with Johnston and assured him and the supervisors that the road would be taken care of.
Supervisor Bill Lawhead said he wants dust control on the road during the timbering, not water and definitely not salt brine, as there is a healthy trout stream along the road. The supervisors then approved the conditional use provided final permitting is finalized.
Supervisor Dan Mitchell was not present.
During the regular meeting, Powell and Secretary Barbara Shaffner thanked everyone who has been helping with clean-up after the flood, especially the Southern Baptist group, which came to the county to help.
Under her report, Shaffner noted a correction was needed for a motion from the last meeting to give the seasonal employees a clothing allowance. She said according to contract, the seasonal employees are required to have the same allowance of $250 as the full-time employees.
Also, the township will receive $350,204 in Act 13 money, down significantly from last year.
A Kerr Addition resident asked the supervisors to look at Bowman’s Hill Road, Good Street and Mapes Street regarding damage during the floods and other concerns.
After a short executive session with the solicitor, the supervisors approved a resolution regarding police department activities from the time the department was established.