BY KEVIN WOODRUFF

Wyoming County Press Examiner

On Monday night, Tunkhannock Township supervisors gave an update on the status of the Act 537 plan to address sewer needs at Lake Carey.

Supervisor Veto Barziloski Jr. said the supervisors held a recent workshop with Lemon Township supervisors and consultants Harleth Davis and Milnes Engineering Co.

“I believe the consultants have been able to come up with answers for a lot of the questions submitted from the community,” Barziloski said. “Now we’re getting together a final product to submit to DEP.”

Township resident JoAnn Fiorito asked when residents who submitted concerns during the public comment period would be notified of an answer to their concern.

“The answers will be put into the new plan,” Barziloski said. “We aren’t required to notify each resident individually.”

Another resident, Minturn Smith, asked when the final plan will be submitted.

Barziloski said the supervisors will hold a meeting on Monday, Jan. 21, to vote on the revised plan.

“Shortly after we vote the plan will be submitted,” Barziloski said. “DEP then has 120 days to look it over.”

Also on Monday, Jon Howard, a member of the Wyoming County Planning Commission, spoke up and asked that the supervisors revisit the issue of zoning in the township.

Barziloski said he is personally a strong proponent of zoning.

“I think we need a structure in place to deal with different industries coming into the area,” Barziloski said. “I think we had a comprehensive plan with Lemon Township in 2004. It’s something we need to look back at.”

He said there is currently no recourse in preventing industries from building within the township.

“We can’t do anything if someone wants to put in a compressor station,” Barziloski said. “Or put up an adult book store next to the library.”

Howard said he has been in the community long enough to know the opposition to zoning.

“I’ve been around long enough and I know the opposition to having zoning. But, we’re no longer an island,” Howard said. “And people will have their own ideas of what they want built in our community.”

Howard said there have been numerous planning commission meetings where residents will ask the county planners to do something about an unwanted structure.

“People will tell us we need to do something,” Howard said. “But there isn’t a damn thing we can do.”

In other business, police chief Stanley Ely told supervisors that he recently finished up constructing a no parking sign ordinance for the shoulder along Route 6 near Keystone Truck Caps.

The ordinance was drafted because a water withdrawal site is set to be built in the field across from Keystone Caps.

“I’ve sent the ordinance to the solicitor,” Ely said. “And it should be ready for the February meeting.”

Tunkhannock Township supervisors also held their yearly reorganizational meeting on Monday, reelecting Veto Barziloski Jr. as chairman.

Supervisor Randy White was appointed as vice chairman.

Ken White was reappointed as roadmaster, Paul Litwin was reappointed solicitor and Ely was reappointed police chief.