COAL TOWNSHIP - During Thursday's Coal Township meeting, township commissioner Gerard Waugh commended Scott Dunn and his 14-year-old son, Jared, for their work in displaying hand-carved Christmas characters and other holiday decorations at the Tharptown playground.
The commissioner also praised the efforts of township roadmaster Bill Kuzmick and other members of the street department for their assistance with the holiday project, which has become a popular tradition over the years.
Township commissioner Craig Fetterman said the commissioners are hopeful Shamokin Area School District retains Patrolman Chris Lapotsky as the school resource officer at the elementary school and middle/high school. School board members recently voted against retaining the position, but the issue is scheduled to be further discussed at their next meeting.
The board reappointed James Sanders as sewage enforcement officer for the township on an as-needed basis and named Ken Young as the alternate officer. Slaby said the township only paid approximately $200 for Sanders' services last year.
Michael Carpenter was reappointed to a five-year term as a Coal Township representative on the Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority.
Township commissioner George Zalar was appointed to represent the board on the township police pension board.
More efficient sewer plant
At the beginning of the meeting, township resident Leroy Zalewski told the commissioners they should consider the possibility of constructing a greener and more efficient sewage treatment plant like the $64.5 million facility being built in Milton.
"Milton's plant will be self-sufficient after so many years and it would definitely be better than the one they plan to build in our area," Zalewski said.
Waugh commended Zalewski for his recommendation. Even though the design work for the new sewage treatment facility that will serve the township and City of Shamokin is complete, Waugh and Fetterman said it would be a good idea to conduct a public workshop meeting about the feasibility of Zalewski's proposal.
Welsh noted a lot of money has been spent on engineering and other facets of the sewage plant project and didn't know if there was any way to amend the plans at this time.
Fetterman said construction of the local plant is scheduled to cost approximately $36 million.