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Gas industry, drug abuse among town hall topics

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Charles Hall, legislative aide for state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, hands out copies of the state budget information during a town hall meeting at the Unityville Volunteer Fire Co. Thursday.

UNITYVILLE — Recent legislation, the status of the drilling industry and the state budget were among many topics discussed at a town hall meeting hosted by state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy on Thursday.

A crowd of around 30 people gathered at the Unityville Volunteer Fire Co. to share and receive input about what’s going on in their region and the state.

The natural gas industry took up most of the meeting, with Everett explaining a progressing severance tax proposed in the state budget.

Initially opposed to the severance tax, Everett now supports it, he said.

“In the beginning there was no gas being produced, so there was nothing to be taxed,” Everett explained. “Now, there’s a lot.”

The wells in the county are world-class and are producing a lot and it’s Everett’s goal to keep up with the competitive market, including surrounding states, he said.

According to Everett, “$500 million has come back to counties and municipalities where they’re drilling … $50 million of that has come to Lycoming County.”

The area hardly sees that amount of money to put towards impact from the drilling itself, police departments, infrastructure work and other crucial areas.

Many residents cited their bad experiences with the gas companies in the area.

Millie Boyer, of Unityville, said the root of her concern began when she heard a gas line burst near her home years ago.

“I heard it burst … it shook my son’s house,” she said. “and we weren’t notified of the damage that it had done. We should have some sort of system. We have a right to know if our lives are in danger.”

Others agreed with Boyer and explained they were told local fire departments would be trained to respond to emergencies like line breaks.

Although fire departments are offered some relevant classes, they aren’t supposed to respond to serious calls regarding the gas lines, Everett said.

“No one really asked the gas companies to come,” he said. “They came quickly and we are have been trying to regulate it.”

A resident shifted the conversation toward the opioid epidemic seeping the county by asking what new work is being done.

“One thing we know is that we can’t arrest or incarcerate our way out of the problem,” he said. “Education is key. It is one of the most evil problems we’ve ever come across and we’re trying to continue finding legislation that works.”

Although Everett works closely with state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, on his focus with the opioid epidemic, Yaw spearheads much of the legislation trying to thwart serious issues such as prescription shopping to help lessen the availability of the drugs.

Near the end of the meeting, Everett discussed the state budget.

The state House of Representatives passed its 2017-18 budget proposal in early April — clocking in at over $800 million less than Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal of $32.3 billion.

“We are doing something this year that I haven’t seen in my 10 years,” Everett explained.

The budget will include cuts of nearly every general government departments while increasing education funding.

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