Forks Township Year in Review - 2009

 

Here are a few activities that affected our township in 2009.

1.  Winning the KMRD lawsuits at the lower court levels. For the KMRD Procedural Challenge the next stop may be the PA Supreme Court.

2. Approving the various 5 year plans for most of the township departments.

3. After a 10% tax increase in 2009, the BoS tighten its “belt” and found enough 09 cost savings to avoid a 2010 tax increase.

4. The 2009 local election brought two new board members.

5. Resolving the Hope Wesleyan Church issue in a rationale way. The church found a new home and we get our Community Center back on Sunday mornings. 

6. The new Public Works Building was given a “green light”, as the BoS approved the building concept and location by a 4 to 1 vote.

I will add new items to the list, as I think of them.

Update Number 1:

1. The Planning Commission developed a Solar Ordnance and will complete a Historical Ordnance for BoS review early in 2010.

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Forks Township Wins Again!

Today, the PA Commonwealth Court upheld the decision of the Court of Common Pleas in the KMRD procedural challenge case.  The Commonwealth Court held that all procedures were followed for the adoption of the new Forks Township Zoning Ordinance in 2006.  

The KMRD developers were claiming the township was not following procedures when the township passed the 2006 changes to the Zoning Ordinance. 

This is great news!  This court ruling proves we are diligent in following state law and treat the developers in a honest way.

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Hope Church has a new home

It seems the Hope Church is now meeting at the Carpenter's Community Church located in Nazareth, Pa.

I have meet some of the church members and I enjoyed our conversations. I wish the church well!

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Forks Township Voter Turnout

I was wondering about the vote turnout for the November 3, 2009 General Election. Here is the Forks Township voting data by district:

 

FORKS TWP EASTERN 1             Total Voter Register: 2,687

Election Day Turnout:            569            21.18%
Absentee Turnout                  11              0.41%
Military Extended Turnout       0              0.00%
Provisional Turnout                  0              0.00%
Total:                                      580           21.59%

 

FORKS TWP EASTERN 2             Total Voter Register: 2,849

Election Day Turnout             531            18.64%
Absentee Turnout                   14              0.49%
Military Extended Turnout        0              0.00%
Provisional Turnout                   0              0.00%
Total:                                     545             19.13%

 

FORKS TWP WESTERN 1           Total Voter Register: 1,803

Election Day Turnout             354               19.63%
Absentee Turnout                   12                 0.67%
Military Extended Turnout        0                 0.00%
Provisional Turnout                   0                 0.00%
Total:                                     366                20.30%

 

FORKS TWP WESTERN 2            Total Voter Register: 2,877

Election Day Turnout              508                17.66%
Absentee Turnout                     11                 0.38%
Military Extended Turnout          0                 0.00%
Provisional Turnout                     0                 0.00%
Total:                                      519                 18.04%

 

Total Voter Register: 10,216

Total Election Day Turnout: 2010

% Turnout: 19.68%

The voter turnout seems about normal, but it is still too low.

Forks Approves new Township Engineer

At the last BoS meeting, the 2009 board appointed Gilmore & Associates, Inc as the new Township Engineer. It is my understanding Scott C. Muller, PE,PLS  will be our next engineer.

I would like to welcome Scott to the team.

 

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Safe Harbor Donation Approved

 

The Forks BoS voted 4 to 1 to donate $2000 to Safe Harbor, a homeless shelter in Easton.  I was pleased the BoS approved the donation. Forks Township proved once again, we believe in the concept of "We are our Brother's Keeper"

 

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