Monthly Business
Executive session held 6:15 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. — litigation and land purchase
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly business meeting on September 12, 2022, called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Kenneth Bechtel. All five supervisors were present — Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney — along with Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky, Engineer Alex Greenly, and Secretary Sara Glace. The board had held a pre-meeting executive session on litigation and a land purchase. The lengthy meeting, running past 10:00 p.m., covered land development, property enforcement, infrastructure, and several Fort Halifax Park proposals.
Konchar Property purchased for Fort Halifax Park expansion: The board approved buying the Konchar Property for $3,100.00 plus $13.39 in expenses and voted to seek reimbursement through the Gaming Grant.
Sycamore Ridge development advances: The board granted five code waivers for the Sycamore Ridge Land Development Plan — covering private streets, curbing, sidewalks, street lighting, and street tree spacing — and gave conditional preliminary plan approval subject to engineer review comments.
Financial security adjustments on letters of credit: A full $190,066.00 release was approved for Members 1st Credit Union, and Hornung True Value's security was reduced from $37,503.40 to $17,242.50. Flight Source received no reduction and will be issued a Notice of Violation.
Nuisance enforcement escalated on multiple properties: The board authorized formal enforcement against Andrew Hoover after two unanswered letters, a violation notice to Mark Zeigler for unpermitted work, and a pre-nuisance letter to Indra Kharel for overgrown grass and trash.
School bus safety concerns on Dunkel School Road: Rather than spending $4,700 on a traffic study for additional bus stop signs, the board voted to write Halifax Area School District and Rohrer Bus Company urging the bus route move into cul-de-sacs and off the main road, citing a dangerous blind turn.
Signal Services approved for traffic light maintenance: The sole bidder was awarded the contract to maintain and repair the township's traffic signals.
Camp Hebron Road culvert replacement proposal from HRG, Inc. was accepted and approved.
Fort Halifax Park proposals saw mixed results: A "Float Your Boat for a Cause" fundraiser and a Cub Scout model rocket launch were approved. A beehive proposal from Nicole Ditty was tabled to October pending a clearer plan and answers about honey sales on Central Pennsylvania Conservancy land. A disc golf proposal from Todd Gearhart was told to secure grant funding and organize volunteer maintenance before the board would consider approval.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman / Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Alex Greenly (Engineer) · Sara Glace (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
Secretary/Treasurer Report
Supervisors approved paid and unpaid bills through September 12, 2022, and approved the August 8, 2022 meeting minutes. The financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC Report
Chief Tim Neiter submitted a report for August 2022 and advised that a Hazard Mitigation Plan Annual Review meeting will be held on November 17, 2022, at the Dauphin County Conservation District Building near Detweiler Park, in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.
Planning Commission Recommendation
Engineer Alex Greenly finished separating the Stormwater Ordinance from the SALDO and provided a draft copy for Board review and comment. The planning commission gave a recommendation of approval for the Camp Hebron Cabin Project.
Engineer Report
Engineer Alex Greenly recommended and the Board approved a full release of Members 1st Credit Union financial security of $190,066.00 and a reduction of Hornung True Value financial security from $37,503.40 to $17,242.50. No reduction was recommended for Flight Source, and HRG will issue a Notice of Violation.
Roadmaster Report
Roadmaster Tim Belk was absent but submitted a report. Discussion focused on a large pipe filled with debris on Konick Road; a vacuum truck was recommended but the Board questioned the cost. The matter was tabled to the October meeting.
Friends of Fort Halifax Report
Frank Wilmarth submitted a report for August 2022 with no action items. The Board approved a fundraising event, Float Your Boat for a Cause, organized by John Esch of Friends of Fort Halifax Park, to be held September 17, 2022.
Nuisance Report
The Board voted to move forward on enforcement action against Andrew Hoover after two unanswered letters. No action was taken on Roger Lehman as the structure is being removed. The Board voted to send Mark Zeigler a violation letter for not obtaining a permit, and to send Indra Kharel a pre-nuisance letter about mowing and trash removal. The Board will notify Building Inspection Underwriters of Pennsylvania regarding a structure built without a permit by Enos Beiler.
Administrative
The Board approved the address of 160 Black Shoulder Road for Parcel 29-004-126, as suggested by Dauphin County.
Old Business
The Board approved the purchase of the Konchar Property for $3,100.00 plus $13.39 in expenses and the agreement of sale. A subsequent motion was approved to submit for reimbursement from the Gaming Grant for the purchase price and expenses.
The Board approved Signal Services as the new contractor to maintain and repair the traffic lights. Signal Services was the only telephone bid received by Halifax Township.
The Board accepted and approved the Camp Hebron Road Culvert Replacement Proposal made by HRG, Inc. Engineer Alex Greenly.
Michelle Bisking requested additional school bus stop signs on Dunkel School Road, but signs already exist and adding more would require a $4,700 traffic study. Supervisor McBurney noted safety concerns about the bus stopping on a blind turn. The Board voted to send a letter to Halifax Area School District and Rohrer Bus Company recommending the bus use cul-de-sacs instead of the main road for children's safety.
The Board approved five waivers from the August 1, 2022 Planning Commission meeting: private streets prohibited, curbing, sidewalks on both sides, street lighting, and street tree spacing at 50 feet. The Board also gave conditional approval to the preliminary plans subject to the satisfaction of HRG's engineer review comments dated September 9, 2022.
New Business
The Board voted to waive Vernon Rothermel's building permit fee since he had already paid for a building permit earlier in the year.
The Board tabled the matter to the October meeting and asked Nicole Ditty to provide better answers and a clearer plan, including whether honey sales would be allowed given the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy's prohibition on farm product sales. Concerns were raised about setting a precedent for other residents wanting to place beehives.
The Board approved Cub Scout Pack 156 to launch model rockets at Fort Halifax Park on September 25, 2022.
The Board advised Todd Gearhart that he would need to find grants to fund his disc golf proposal at Fort Halifax and organize a group of volunteers to maintain the course before the Board would approve the proposal.
The Board approved advertisement of 2023 Workshop Meeting Dates in the Citizen Standard: October 17, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., October 24, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., and November 1, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. if necessary.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.