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…for
the citizens of Jones Township, provided
by the Board of Supervisors.
Board of Supervisors James Elinski, Chairman Debra Shaffer, Vice Chairman
Laurie
Storrar, Secretary / Treasurer
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Township News
This
is our sixth edition of the Jones Township Newsletter. There has been a
lot of progress since our last newsletter, most of which we will be
highlighting in this newsletter. The Board of Supervisors always
welcomes the comments, questions, and suggestions of their residents. We
hope you will enjoy reading this edition of the Jones Township Newsletter.
Township Meeting: 2nd Monday of each month
Authority Meeting: 3rd Wednesday of each month
Recreation Board: Last Monday of each
month.
All meetings begin at 7:00 PM. The public is welcome to attend. Any changes to meeting times/dates or special sessions will be noted in The Johnsonburg Press and/or The Ridgway Record.
This project has seen its share of setbacks. Final plans are now with PennDOT waiting for approval. Once approved, if funding is still available, this grant will be used for sidewalk replacement along Marvin and Clarion Streets and new street light fixtures on Clarion Street.
Building Permits are required for the construction or demolition of any dwelling, including camps. Additionally, a permit is required for any size addition to a dwelling and for residential detached structures greater than 1000 sq. feet in size. An addition is defined as the extension or increase in floor area or height of any structure. All non-residential work requires a building permit.
Construction of an attached deck that is higher than 30-inches
above the finished grade also requires permitting. Jones Township has generic pre-engineered plans available to
deck builders to assist them in meeting the building code requirements for
deck construction.
State law also provides for an exclusion from these building permit requirements for certain types of “recreational cabins”. A recreation cabin is any structure that is used primarily for recreational activity, such as hunting and fishing, and is not intended to be utilized as a residence- now or in the future. When recreational cabin exclusion is granted, the cabin must be furnished with a fire extinguisher as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in each sleeping quarters. These cabins are not exempt from state and local sewage regulations.
Additionally, sewage permits are required for the construction, repair or modification of any sewage disposal system, including privies and outhouses.
The Jones Township Building Official and Sewage Enforcement Officer is Mr. Russ Braun. He may be reached by calling 929-5138. Please feel free to call should you have any building questions or if you are planning a construction project this year. Information is also available on the Township’s website by clicking UCC/Permit INFO.
There
is nothing more disheartening than taking a leisurely ride through the back
roads of the Township only to find that someone has carelessly dumped trash
and rubbish over a bank instead of disposing of it properly. The
Township conducts both spring and fall cleanups for items that cannot be put
out with regular household refuse collections. The cost is minimal.
Please take advantage of these cleanups. This year’s cleanup will be
held on Saturday, May 3rd from 8am to 3pm.
A drop-off site for recycled materials is
available at the Community Building, 320 Faries
Street. We encourage all to recycle whenever possible. Brochures on detailed
recycling are available at the township office. To highlight—the following
items may be recycled here: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and
corrugated cardboard; plastic bottles (only soft drink, juice, milk, laundry
products, liquid detergents, ketchup, vinegar, cooking oil bottles, and
windshield washer fluid bottles) and all glass bottles.
Please put your glass beer bottles into the recycling container, throw
the cardboard box in the recycling container, and take the six-pack holders
home with you to put in your regular garbage.
Many times those bottles left outside of the container end up being
smashed.
Jones Township residents and camp owners
are reminded to properly dispose of unwanted electronic products by taking
them to the Electronic Recycling Center in St. Marys
located at the Stackpole complex.. Disposal is free of charge to
all residents and property owners of Elk County. The center is open the
third Saturday of each month from 9am till 1pm.
Please call the Elk County Solid Waste Authority at 814-776-5373 or the
Township at 814-929-5138 for more information.
The multi-purpose court has been completed. This enclosed, lighted court offers volleyball, basketball, tennis and badminton. The court nicely compliments the baseball field and concession building. Our court is featured on the state’s DCNR website at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/keystone/elk.pdf. A grant has been received for three ADA accessible fishing piers and a macadam-walking track to the piers which should be completed this year. This brings the total grants received towards the park amenities to $160,860. In addition, donations include $32,000 from the Wilcox Area Development Corp. as well as $15,000 from the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation. Fundraisers for the park projects have brought in over $17,000.
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A spring community
donated Yard Sale will be held on April 26th and 27th at the
Wilcox community building. There is something for everyone. The
Supervisors would like to thank all those who donate items for the sale, as
well as the people that attend the sale. If you have items you’d like
to donate for the yard sale, please contact Deb Shaffer at 929-5506. No
luggage, exercise equipment, encyclopedias, broken items or ripped or stained
clothing are accepted. Donations are accepted all year-round. Another
fundraiser is the collection of empty fax, inkjet, laser
and postage meter cartridges. Collections boxes are available at the Municipal
Authority office and the Township office or call Deb at 929-5506.
A used 1996 street sweeper is the latest
edition to the township road department’s equipment list.
The sweeper was purchased last December from North Strabane Township,
just south of Pittsburgh. The 1996 International dump truck has also been replaced with
a new 2007 model. The Board of
Supervisors, in 1991, established a road equipment replacement schedule and
this schedule has been followed pretty closely ever since.
Should you have areas in need of additional attention within the
responsibilities of the township road crew, please contact the Supervisors to
discuss them. We are happy to listen and assist where appropriate.
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The Lamont Community
Association, in conjunction with the Supervisors, has undertaken the task of
finding grant money to refurbish their building.
A survey has recently been sent out to determine if the community is
eligible for Community Development Block Grant money.
If so, extensive repairs are being planned. This building is used as a polling place for elections
and also plays host to the annual Lamont Community Days held last October.
Pictured below are a few of the participants!
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Wilcox Sesquicentennial Celebration
The
Village of Wilcox will celebrate it’s Sesquicentennial this year with a
3-day celebration on July 18th, 19th, and 20th.
A schedule of events is available on the township website,
www.jonestownship.com. There will be food & drink, craft and various other
vendors, as well as live radio broadcasts set up at the former Wilcox Garage
parking lot. Plan your vacations for this once in a lifetime special
celebration. Applications are being accepted through May 1st for a
King, Queen, Princess and Prince to reign over the Celebration. You can place a memorial for your loved one in the
Sesquicentennial Book. The cost
is $5.00 per memorial and must be submitted by May 1st.
In conjunction with the
Sesquicentennial Celebration, the Winery At Wilcox will feature three special
labels honoring the Sesquicentennial. These
labels can be found on the Winery’s Clarion River Red, Wedding White and
East Branch Sunset. They are now
available at the Winery and will be available at the Wilcox Public Library’s
booth during the Sesquicentennial.
Mailing Address: PO Box 374, Wilcox, PA 15870 Phone:
814-929-5775, Fax: 814-929-5359
Email: jtma@ncentral.com
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Carl
R. Johnson, Chairman
Gale Lehman
Jim Abbey, Vice-Chairman Judy Galsick
Diane Rhodes, Secretary
The Municipal Authority board
currently has two vacancies. If
you are interested in servicing your community, please contact the authority
office or the township office.
Jean
Cooney, Chairperson
Mary
Bizzak, Vice-Chairperson & Scheduling
Paul
Allegretto, Secretary
Pam
Anderson, Treasurer
Krissy
Stelene
The Jones Township Recreation Board will hold their Summer Program the week of July 7 – 10, and July 14 - 17. This highly successful program is open to children from kindergarten age through sixth grade. Anyone interested in renting the community building for weddings, reunions, birthday or anniversary parties should contact Mary Bizzak at 929-9840 for more information. The board will sponsor a 5k run and 2-mile walk race on Sunday, July 20th in conjunction with the Sesquicentennial Celebration. For more information on the race contact Pam Anderson at 929-5929.
Two vacancies currently exist on the
recreation board. If interested,
please contact Jean Cooney or the township office.
The Community Center Membership Drive
starts every year in October. Memberships are one way the Recreation
Board raises money to fund activities at the community building. Current
activities are Women’s Recreation Volleyball and
Men’s Basketball. Membership applications are very
affordable, as are rentals for weddings and banquets. Applications can be
printed from our website or by contacting Mary Bizzak
at 814-929-9840.
John
Newman, President
Beth
Thorwart, Vice President
Melinda
Lewis, Treasurer
Mike DePonceau, Secretary
Chris
Imbrogno
Carol
Strauss
Father
Jack Barwin
Director:
Barb DePonceau
Library
hours are:
Monday & Friday 10AM-4PM,
Tuesday 10AM-4PM and 6-8PM,
Wednesday
6PM – 8PM
Thursday 10AM-1PM and 6-8PM
Saturday
9AM to Noon
Closed Sunday and Holidays.
Phone: 814-929-5639
Email: wilcoxlib@ncentral.com
Website: http://www.wilcoxlibrary.ncentral.com
The Wilcox Public Library’s Summer Reading Program promises to be exciting this year again. This year’s theme is all about bugs and creepy crawlies and the program is open to children ages 3 to 12. The program will be starting in June so stay in contact with the library for more information.
In order to bring you better library
service, the Wilcox Public Library’s Board of Directors, the Jones Township
Supervisors, the Wilcox Area Development Corporation, the Elk County Planning
Department and the Elk County Commissioners have been working on plans to
renovate the building on the corner of Marvin Street and Clarion Street to
relocate the library. The building known as the Barratt building will be
renovated historically accurate; the building will look as it did when it was
first built. The participating agencies have raised $140,000.00 in grant money
for this project; we are $86,000.00 short of the bid we received to renovate
the outside and first floor of the building. Funds are still being sought and
if you would like to help financially with this project please contact someone
within the above agencies for more information.
The library will be selling
“Memorial Flags” to honor our veterans on Memorial Day. The flags will be In
Honor of if the veteran is still living and In Memory of if
the veteran has passed. Flags will be sold for $5.00 each and will be
displayed in the library’s side yard on Memorial Day for everyone to see. If
you wish to purchase one for a veteran you know, please contact the library at
814-929-5639 or stop in at the library to see the example and place your
order. Please have information on your veteran available.
We would like to put the branch of service and any wars or conflicts
the veteran has participated in on the flag.
The Wilcox Public Library will be having
its annual Baked Goods and Book Sale at the Community Wide Yard Sale the
weekend of April 26th and 27th. Anyone wishing to donate baked
goods or books for our sale is welcome to contact the library at
814-929-5639 or stop in at the library and make arrangements for
your donation.
Carl
R. Johnson, President
Ron
Stanley, Vice Pres.
Frank
Snook
Laurie Storrar, Sec/Treas;
Sally Zimmerman
George Parana
Tom Folino
Rose Maletto
Bob Johnson
The Wilcox Area Development Corporation is a non-profit organization. The goal of the WADC is to promote local industrial, economic, and recreational development. For further information or potential projects, please contact any of the directors.
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Jones Township Senior Center
The Jones Township Senior Center is a
very active group that offers facilities at the Jones Township Community
Center Building. Contact Nancy O’Rourke, Center Director, 814-929-5443.
The Senior Center is open every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 10:00
am - 3:00 pm. Transportation can be provided, if needed.
Letter
from the Director..…
I would like to let everyone know about the activities we have been offering at the Senior Center. We offer a free continential breakfast from 9 am until 10:30. Coffee, tea, bagels, muffins, juice and cereal are available. We also have walking, table chat and cards (cinch and Michigan rummy). We also are sponsoring the Angel Food Ministries, which is available to everyone, no limit on income. Also we have ladies who love to quilt and have already completed “Then and Now” quilt for the Sesquicentennial Celebration which will be chanced off the weekend of the celebration in July. They are already planning on starting another one. Coming soon to the Center, Wii Physical Therapy for those of us who need to get moving and want to have fun doing it. Also there are people who have volunteered to teach the people who are interested in Tatting, which is almost a lost art, and some of the members are interested in learning to Macrame’ lawn furniture. They are also interested in learning how to play pool so as to put the pool table to use. So watch the Jones Township web site for more information on the upcoming programs and come and join us.
Nancy O’Rourke, Center
Director
The Elk County Housing Rehabilitation Program (ECHRP) is
available to low and low/moderate homeowners of Elk County residing anywhere
in the county with the exceptions of the City of St. Mary's and the Borough of
Ridgway. The City and The Borough have similar programs. The ECHRP uses a
combination of HOME and ACT 137 monies to bring homes up to code thus
preserving the housing stock of the county.
The Northern Tier Access Grant (NATG) is available to all
low and low/moderate residents of Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter counties.
The purpose of the NTAG is to help eligible homeowners and renters make
accessibility modifications to their homes.
In addition, Elk County is a participant in the Northwest
Regional Lead Consortium, a program to assist in the abatement of lead hazards
in low and low/moderate income homes with children less than six years of age.
Qualified applicants for both the ECHRP and the NTAG program are eligible to
participate. In addition, landlords may be eligible for reimbursement of some
renovation work involving lead abatement.
The Weatherization Program, run by the Northern Tier
Community Action Corporation, helps very low income homeowners in Cameron,
Elk, McKean, and Potter counties with energy conservation issues.
The Low-Income Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) as well as a
home heating Crisis Program are also available to eligible county residents.
Information about these programs may be obtained by contacting the Department
of Public Welfare
Because we live here, we often forget the activities and attractions available in our township. We host more than 400,000 visitors a year (U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts) in Elk County. The areas and activities available here are: hunting, fishing, boating, Allegheny National Forest, the Wilcox Winery, Elk State Park, East Branch Lake, Twin Lakes Park, Bendigo State Park, Allegheny Motor Raceway, camping, and hiking. Links to all state parks are available on our website (Recreation & Hunting and Fishing menu items).
The
US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, operates and maintains the
East Branch Dam. Recently, the
dam is considered to have unconfirmed issues which merit further study and
analysis, largely because it has a history of seepage related problems.
The dam is being monitored and regularly inspected by project staff as
well as engineers from the Pittsburgh District office.
Although the dam level has been reduced to lessen the static pressure
on the dam embankment, it is not anticipated to hinder boating.
It will be business as usual on April 11th when the
campsites open and boating and fishing resume.
For more information, contact the Pittsburgh District Public Office at
lrp.webinquires.usace.army.mil.
If you have the chance to visit Wilcox on Christmas Eve you will be delighted to see the many luminaries that line Marvin Street. It is an awesome sight and the Holiday Lighting volunteers put in many hours to make this event happen, not to mention the people that donate to the memorial luminaries. The Holiday Lighting celebration is held each year the Sunday evening following Thanksgiving. A chosen honored citizen throws the main switch to light up the Christmas decorations throughout the town to kick off the Holiday Season. Santa Claus also makes an appearance at the gathering held at the St. Anne’s
Recreation Hall. If you would like to honor a loved one you may purchase a luminary for $5.00, and you can purchase a Christmas bulb for $10.00 from the Holiday Lighting committee. The featured Christmas bulb this year is a special edition Sesquicentennial bulb featuring the Tannery. Advanced orders can be placed by contacting
Rose Maletto (929-5534), Bernice Morgan (929-5515), or Elaine Pavlock (929-5158). The Holiday Lighting committee will have the commemorative bulbs, face painting and sesquicentennial balloons at the Celebration in July. Look for their booth!
Fred Maletto, III – President
Randy Mehalko - Vice President
Christine Cummings - Secretary/Treasurer
Thomas Mehalko – Chief
Fred Maletto, Jr. - Deputy Chief
Harold Dowdle – Asst. Chief
The WVFD holds a monthly 50/50, drawing the lucky ticket winner the second Monday of every month. Members are now selling their Memorial Day Gun Raffle tickets. The winner will be drawn during the Memorial Day festivities. First prize is a rifle of your choice or cash, and second prize is a pair
of binoculars. Please support our local volunteer fire department.
· Around the Township
Don’t forget the Memorial Day happenings in Wilcox! The American Legion organizes this celebration every year and does a tremendous job. Let’s honor our veterans and come out to show our appreciation………
Spring is around the corner, and many residents will
be out walking and biking. Please remember, it is against the law to allow your dog to roam. If you are unable to keep your dog in your own yard, please leash them so that they do not approach those residents walking and biking.
To contact your local
legislators:
Senator Joe Scarnati
Senate Box 203025
187 Main Capital Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3025
Honorable Dan Surra
PA House of Representatives
323 Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter and find the information useful. Please use the following form to share your thoughts, ideas and concerns with us.
Suggestions and Comments
Welcome......
The Jones
Township Board of Supervisors is providing this questionnaire for you to provide
comments and suggestions on activities within the municipality. We received many
responses to our last newsletter with valuable comments, suggestions and
recommendations for growth and improvement. Please feel free to continue to
provide us with feedback. We will attempt to answer and respond to all
suggestions within our capabilities.
If you will take a few moments to provide your comments, we would appreciate hearing from you. You may use the form below and mail to the township office (address on page one) or drop it by our office if you wish.
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Comments or Suggestions: _______________________________________________________
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Add additional page(s) if necessary. Thank you for your response.
Anyone wishing to receive this newsletter by e-mail instead of postal mail can do so by sending their e-mail address to jonestwp@ncentral.com or include it with the suggestions and comment sheet.
PO Box 25
Wilcox, PA 15870
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Rural Route Wilcox, PA 15870 |
