Final Meeting About Proposed East Keating/Noyes Township Merger Held

By Christopher Miller

RENOVO, PA – At a scarcely-attended meeting Monday night, Noyes Township Supervisors James Tarantella and Kimberly Kelley, DCED Representative Terri Cunkle, and Noyes and East Keating Township Secretary/Treasurer Tracy Shady came together to answer any last minute questions in regards to the possible merger of East Keating into Noyes Township.

While no one was present besides the press, the only thing mentioned was to, “get out and vote.”

“Vote yes on merging with Noyes Township,” Secretary/Treasurer Tracy Shady said. “For those who live in Noyes and East Keating Townships, this question will be on the back of the paper ballot when you receive it, so do not forget to turn it over and vote on merging.”

The official question on the ballot will be: Should East Keating Township merge into Noyes Township?

“Both townships drafted an ordinance explaining what the merger would look like, then they put it on the ballot,” Cunkle explained during the July meeting. “The majority has to vote and be favorable in each municipality and if one municipality votes it down, the question of a merger cannot go back on the ballot for five years.”

If township residents vote in favor of the merger, East Keating will be merged with Noyes Township as of January 1, 2025 and will bring with it an additional 7.4 miles of road, liquid fuels funds of about $26,000, a surplus of $200,000, about 200 camps, and seven voters.

Maps will be changed and updated almost immediately which are important for roadways and liquid fuel money.

Below is information that will be handed out to voters prior to walking into Noyes Township building to vote:

The purpose of the ballot question is to detennine whether the electors of East Keating Township and Noyes Township favor merging East Keating Township into Noyes Township.

East Keating Township would merge into Noyes Township.

The whole geographic area of the merged area would be known as Noyes Township.

Noyes Township will continue to be a second-class township.

Noyes Township would continue to be governed by the current Supervisors of Noyes Township of which there are three elected officials.

All tax collections would be with the Noyes Township Tax Collector.

Noyes Township would be governed by the existing Noyes Township ordinances.

Noyes Township will take possession of all of the assets currently in their possession and those items of East Keating Township. Noyes Township will assume any indebtedness and any existing liabilities of each Township. Neither township has any debts, mortgage loans or any other indebtedness. No liabilities exist for East Keating Township.

The common administration and enforcement of ordinances will be conducted by the Noyes Township Supervisors or their designee.

If the question is approved as a result of the number of”Yes” votes being greater than the number of “No” votes in each Township, East Keating Township would merge into Noyes Township.

If the question is not approved as a result of the number of “No” votes being greater than or equal to the number of “Yes” votes in each Township, then East Keating Township and Noyes Township would not merge.

The 2020 population of Noyes Township was 333 and the 2020 population of East Keating Township was seven. East Keating is the second smallest municipality in the state behind Centralia.

Incorporated in 1875, East Keating Township will be only three weeks shy of its 150th birthday if the merger takes place on January 1, 2025.

Editor’s Note: In our initial report, we incorrectly listed Supervisor Jim Risley as attending the meeting. The correct attendee was Supervisor James Tarantella. We apologize for the oversight and appreciate your understanding.