Police coverage, grants and other items discussed at Bald Eagle Township

By Christopher Miller
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – It was a very “business as usual” supervisors meeting Monday night at Bald Eagle Township with a full agenda.

Township Supervisors heard from a resident regarding the dumping and burning of trash at a neighbors property.

“A truck came late in the evening and dumped all sorts of trash outside my neighbors house, trash that just looks like normal demolition debris like refrigerators and construction bits,” she said. “Over the next few days they started to burn it and things were popping and flying over onto my property and I wanted to know if the township could do anything about it.”

Township Solicitor Frank Miceli offered little advice on the matter saying there would need to be an ordinance in place regarding excess junk or trash before the township could step in.

Mill Hall Borough Fire Chief Tony Walker, who answers fire calls in Bald Eagle Township, said that the next time this happens, call the county communications center and report a fire. “If you make a call, we will come and put it out and I may have some leverage with the Fire Marshal to help you,” Walker said.

Township supervisors then went into talking about Ordinance 2024-01: Police Coverage for Bald Eagle Township.

“We are working on putting this in place but we need to adjust some wording in the contract with Mill Hall Borough for how this coverage renews,” Supervisor Steve Tasselli said. “This will automatically renew unless the borough notifies Bald Eagle Township, or vice-versa, within 45 days to end it during the first 12 months, then after that and all subsequent years, a 30-day notice is needed to terminate the contract.”

Before township supervisors can vote on it, Mill Hall Borough has to finalize their end of it and vote on it as well to allow their police to provide coverage for Bald Eagle.

Mill Hall Borough will take up the agreement at their monthly supervisors meeting on September 24. Bald Eagle Township will then hold a hearing and then a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, October 7 to take action on the ordinance.

“We are contracting for 10 hours of traffic control per week within Bald Eagle Township through Mill Hall Borough Police, in addition to what PA State Police already provide for us,” Tasselli said.

In other news, there were no updates Monday night on the proposed Wawa project along Hogan Boulevard at the former Creekside Restaurant.

The Take 5 quick service oil change building has all paperwork in order for township supervisors to sign off on the project. The most recent hurdle was an agreement with Lowe’s to access the storm water runoff drains so connections can be made from Take 5.

Marissa Morgan, Township Secretary/Treasurer will be applying for the Local Share Grant which is a 0% match grant for road projects in the township. The application fee is $100 and will go towards some road work projects.

Supervisors reminded those in attendance of the proposed Hogan Boulevard sidewalk path that was introduced in last month’s meeting. County Engineer Steve Gibson is looking to submit a grant so a survey can be conducted to look into the project. “No one is going to be against anyone riding bikes or motor scooters on the sidewalk if it is built,” Tasselli said.

Under new business, a tax collection service called Keystone Collection Group stopped by the township office to give information on the collection of local services taxes (LST). The rate that the current tax collector for the township collects is 9% while Keystone Collection Group would collect 1.75% which “would save the township thousands of dollars,” Morgan said. The current tax collector for the township is on a four year term with two years left. The township supervisors said that they “would look into it.”

Bald Eagle Township is going to apply for a Low Volume Grant which is through the Clinton County Conservation District. This grant, if awarded, will be used for any sort of projects such as road or drainage work. “There is no cost to apply for it, I just need to work with the guys here in the shop to talk about what projects would work,” Marissa said.

The purchase of new air handler units for the office and meeting room, and the discussion of roof repair or replacement were tabled for the next meeting.

Lastly, Tasselli thanked the township and community for dealing with the flooding and road closures that happened at the end of August with that last “freak storm” that came through.

“We are still working on the aftermath, but we want to thank you and Mill Hall Borough for lending a hand and being cooperative, along with the county, fire personnel, police, and just everyone who helped out.”

Supervisors will hold their 2025 Budget Work Session on Friday, September 27 at 11 a.m.