MANSFIELD - Richmond Township resident Ruth Kovich brought up what is on many landowner's minds during the township supervisors meeting here Tuesday: Will the township vote to use its portion of the natural gas impact fee, or not?
According to Kovich, the fee, based on 11 wells drilled in the township, will net less than $90,000, or 16 percent of the $550,000 based on a median price $50,000 per well.
"The township budget must be in to Public Utility Commission by June 1 if you plan to enact it," Kovich said. "And 16 percent is not a good return. If you adopt it, you sacrifice our rights as property owners to eminent domain for the pipeline or anything else they want to do."
A special meeting for township supervisors and borough officials has been called by the Tioga County commissioners for Thursday night, township secretary Deb Kotulka said, and the supervisors plan to attend it to ask questions concerning the fee.
"You are opening up yourselves to a liability lawsuit because I am sure it would be contested very quickly. You need to consider those of us who have been residents and property owners here a long, long time," Kovich added.
Kotulka said she would contact township solicitor Bill Hebe's office Wednesday.
In other business, the supervisors received a revised land use map from Fagan Engineering for the proposed Candlewood Inn, to be built on South Main Street behind the Wendy's Restaurant, showing a three-story building instead of a four-story building.
"Our client was able to get it down to a three story unit, but it will have a bit bigger footprint for 72-79 units," said Fagan representative Tom Dobrydney.
"Right now the water capacity and limitations of that are the primary issue. We will be here next month to discuss a conditional approval that prior to construction we deal with that issue," he said.
Supervisors also:
Set a new public hearing on proposed zoning changes for 6:30 p.m. May 1, just prior to the township's regular meeting.
Discussed using $6,265 in county liquid fuels aid for replacement of the Bruielly Road sluice pipe.
Reminded residents that township spring clean up days will be from 8 a.m. to noon April 14 and April 21, with a shredding company present from 10 a.m. to noon April 21 to provide document shredding.
