TREVORTON - Because they say Reading Anthracite has been uncooperative in dealing with the ATV riders using Coal Hill, Zerbe Township supervisors looking for other ways to stop the practice.
At their meeting Monday night, supervisors discussed having township Police Chief Robert John patrol Coal Hill to let ATV riders know that the hill is off limits.
"Reading's security chief said if they have a permit they can be on Reading Anthracite land, but they are not allowed on Coal Hill. Their security team is not giving us any help on the matter," John said.
The hill is owned by Reading Anthracite, but is not included in the land the company allows ATV riders to use with a purchase of a permit.
The chief said Reading is not concerned about the people of Zerbe Township, but with the $164,125 in revenue the company takes in for permits per year.
Solicitor Roger Wiest reported no improvements in talks with Reading but again encouraged residents to call the company and express their concerns. Their contact person is Debbie Fehr, he said.
Supervisor Michael Schwartz mentioned there could be a Department of Environmental Protection violation for air quality standards from dust and debris kicked up from ATVs. He asked surrounding residents to contact DEP with any concerns.
The board also discussed an issue involving PPL Electric Utilities. Recently, the company sent the township the results of a survey that mentioned there are about 15 poles with "unauthorized attachments on them."
Those attachments are "Welcome to Trevorton" banners hanging off the poles. Because of this infraction, PPL wants to charge a fee of $12 a year per pole, which would be a total fee of $180.
"I really think we are not liable for this, since the banners hang under 18 feet from the ground, where PPL says is a non-usable part of the pole," said supervisor Mike Mazer.
Wiest will send a letter to PPL from the supervisors stating their disagreement and asking why they are subject to the fine. If PPL continues to push the issue, the banners will be taken down.
In other business, Ron Lesher was appointed the new township zoning officer. The board also inform Jake Shingara they have no position on his application for a dealer's license to sell ATVs at his business.
The board denied a request from the Trevorton Senior Action Center to place a handicapped parking spot in front of their building, due to the township's moratorium on granting such requests.
Schwartz announced the township applied for a Cops Hiring Program grant which, if approved, would pay 100 percent of the approved entry-level salary and fringe benefits of any newly-hired and/or rehired full-time career law enforcement officer for three years.