(6/2022) Liberty Township was pleased to have Fairfield Fire Chief Bill Jacobs speak at the May township meeting about fire safety in our community. He explained the use of dry hydrants and the importance of cooperation in rural areas like Liberty Township that rely on community efforts of providing water from the local streams and ponds because no public water system with traditional fire hydrants is available. Liberty Township is reaching out to our property owners to grant permission to access those water sources to provide fire suppression in the case of emergencies. The also township hosted a CPR and First Aid Training that was attended by Hamiltonban and Liberty Township employees and a few members of the public. Thank you to Adams Regional EMS for providing the training for a reasonable fee.

We had a few complaints recently about trash blowing in to neighboring yards, and we asked that you use securely covered trash bins to prevent animals and wind from distributing debris in to neighboring properties. I would also like to remind residents that heavy rainfalls cause flooding, and we may need to close roads for safety. Wenschhof Road is particularly prone to flooding. When closing a road, we notify Adams County Department of Emergency Services of the road closure and place signs, barricades, and orange cones at the flood site. During a recent storm, Wenschhof Road was closed due to flooding on a Friday afternoon and were not able to open it until Sunday morning. Someone did not want to adhere to the road closure and removed our barricade and cones and tossed them into the woods. We ask that you respect the road closure devices and know that the Township will reopen the road as soon as we determine it is safe for travel.

Only two bids were received for the recently advertised road work bids. As the lowest bidder, New Enterprise Stone and Lime was awarded the project for work on McGlaughlin Road. With the rising cost of fuel and other materials, several companies declined to bid. With the proposed cost coming in at 40% over budget, the Supervisors prioritized the work and agreed to postpone awarding the bid for bridge work and several other roads to focus available funding to repair McGlaughlin Road. We are continuing our intermunicipal work with Hamiltonban Township which includes trading hours and equipment as we work together on road projects to help each township and keep costs down by completing as many projects as we can in house. Please be sure to obey the posted speed limits as warmer weather approaches. Road work and mowing activities will be present on the area roadways increasing the need for caution.

We had a great turnout for the April electronics recycling event. The next event is scheduled for October 15 and is open to Park?s Garbage customers in the Fairfield area. The Liberty Township Police Department took part in another successful Annual Drug Take Back event on April 30 at Carroll Valley Borough. I would like to thank the volunteers who worked the polls for the 270 people who came out to vote on May 17.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!