(7/29) Although the money is not yet in hand, several bridges and roads in Hamiltonban Township may soon get much needed repairs. Township supervisors gave approval to submit a $200,000 loan application for work on Reid's, Moritz and Hickory Farms bridges, also included will be Knox Road and others that are slated for repair. "We can start work and then pay ourselves
back," said township Secretary/Treasurer Deborah Feiler.
Feiler said that the township is waiting for a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection for the bridge on Jacks Road, and is hopeful they can publish bids in early August. The DEP permit applications are still being prepared for Reid's bridge, on Cold Springs Road at Gum Springs Road. Frustrated with the process, Supervisor Chairman Robert Gordon says "the
regulations and red tape are mind boggling."
Roadmaster John Harbaugh Jr. said he will post a one-day road closure of Cold Springs Road between the tracks and Doug Lane around the first week in August for repaving. He also noted that Penn DOT will begin repaving Jack’s Mountain Road on August 3. Residents should be aware that this will result in the closure of the common over-mountain shortcut between Fairfield and
Waynesboro Pike. For road work information, residents are advised to check the township’s website for additional updates.
In other meeting news, supervisors gave conditional final approval for a Catholic monastery located just south of Fairfield Road on Water Street. The facility, which lies in both Hamiltonban and Liberty townships, will be located atop the hill past the water treatment plant and the Valley Quarries mines. The monastery, which is owned by Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, of
Elysburg, PA will be home to about 30 cloistered Carmelite nuns. Actual construction will be limited to the Hamiltonban Township portion of the property.
The township board approved payment of a property tax refund to Knouse Food Cooperative Inc. The township will pay $14,880; Fairfield Area School District will pay $98,978 and Adams County picks up $35,369. "The tax appeal had been about three years in negotiations, and the payment was budgeted in the township's 2015 spending plan," said Supervisor Chairman Robert Gordon.
The supervisors also approved an agreement with funding guarantor, Sites-Bittinger LLC for the new intersection and traffic light planned for the intersection at Fairfield and Iron Springs Road. This agreement relieves developer David Sites of sole personal responsibility for any construction costs over about $2.7 million in state grants, and ensures the township has no
financial responsibility for the project.
Sites has already received $700,000 from the state Department of Transportation to cover some of the costs to realign the state road. He said he will apply for an additional grant to complete the work. If the additional money is approved, it will provide close to $1 million from the state Multi-Modal Transportation Fund.
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