Heated exchanges liven Liberty Township meeting

LIBERTY VILLA—Liberty Township Supervisors pointed with pride to public support and appreciation of road work in the past while, at their monthly meeting Tuesday evening. But in the same session, one township couple viewed with alarm what they considered improper procedures and unfair actions.

Supervisor Chairman Gary Turner praised the road crew and helpers for yeoman work replacing the Bemis Road bridge, in one marathon session from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m..

Turner noted the kindness and cooperation of Dick Brown in furnishing pizza for the hungry workmen, and nearby landowners for allowing use of their land for temporary access.

Other road improvements and plans for a few more projects during the construction season were discussed. Turner and supervisors Chuck Safford and Bruce Klein said they are pleased with the efforts of the crew. The supervisors have forgone their pay last year and this so as to free up more funds for supplies.

They praised the diligence of township secretary Cindy Speeth in keeping spending within the budget and notifying supervisors as to what budget categories and accounts are close to their limits and what amounts are available, especially as the budget year is in its final months.

Klein reported having heard a number of positive comments, even in the past few days, from township residents concerning the improvement in road and bridge care, and said this has been gratifying. He credited Turner and Safford with much of the effort, and said they spent a great deal of time on township work.

Randy and Lisa Hobbs had some other views concerning recent moves by the supervisors.

When it was reported that the township government, as owner of the land along Route 155 South where the highway maintenance and office compound is located, will now receive its promised portion of natural gas from a well an energy company drilled a while ago, and may sell some of it to a new business nearby, Hobbs objected.

“You can’t sell gas like that,” Hobbs admonished the supervisors. He added, “I have strong feelings about the water, too. If you want to sell it, the township (residents and taxpayers) shouldn’t take the burden.”

Hobbs referred to water from the township government’s well, which supplies its office building and barn. Recently the township has allowed Muccio Transportation to wash its school buses at the barn.

It was recorded in recent minutes that this agreement calls for Muccio to cover any extra costs to the township for the water use, but Hobbs felt a formal agreement should have been in place first.

Selling natural gas or water puts the township into the role of a public utility, and they are not set up to be one or to follow the necessary regulations, Hobbs asserted.

Klein tried to act as peacemaker and calm the discussion, declaring that the supervisors are trying to do the best they can, and so are the business people of the township, including the Hobbs couple. They are owners of Portage Industries and of RecycAll, right across the road from the township complex. Some years ago, Randy Hobbs was involved in some dealings with a gas company drilling on the Portage Industries property on the east side of the road, adjoining the township property. Turner was a supervisor at that time, and sometimes at loggerheads with Hobbs over drilling locations.

Current supervisors are pleased that the gas developer they chose then has now begun paying royalties to them, and also delighted at the prospect of the township finally receiving its free gas supply to township buildings, eliminating the monthly gas bill.

Klein asked Speeth to arrange for a more formal agreement between Muccio Transportation and the township, and she assured him it would be done. This seemed not to appease the Hobbs couple.

Meanwhile local construction contractor Mick Caulkins came in with two rolls of plans and plot drawings showing where Muccio Transportation will build its garage and office buildings on land it is buying from the township, contingent on approvals and permits. As the new transportation contractor for the Port Allegany School District, Muccio is renting a temporary base from Portage Industries, but working toward creating its own depot.

Caulkins said he had just come from a McKean Count Planning Commission meeting, where approval had been given for Muccio’s 2.5 acre subdivision. It calls for an on-lot sewage system, but, Caulkins said, he would also like to get approval for a holding tank option if that becomes necessary.

Eventually the Muccio depot would be a sewer customer of the township, after a pending project is complete.

Uncertainty revolves around the fate of a plan in which Hobbs and the township and Port Allegany Borough are collaborating on a project which would be funded 75 percent by a state

PennWORKS grant and 25 percent by the two local municipalities. If the grant is forthcoming, the project will bring water and sewerage to that area of the township through two miles of water and sewer lines, extended from the borough. This is crucial for development of industrial sites in the area, and would be welcomed by Muccio, but not essential to its plans.

Caulkins explained that the planning commission has approved a waiver of a study of wastewater management needs, based on the township and conservation approval of the runoff and erosion control methods designed into the project. The supervisors also approved the waiver by a formal vote.

Randy Hobbs charged that Caulkins had dug up a gas line by premature starting on the project, and that Caulkins had made negative remarks about him.

Caulkins declared his wish to get along with all parties and said he might have spoken in anger, on an earlier occasion, based on what he had been told. “I apologize for any negative remarks,” he said.

Turner and Randy Hobbs continued to exchange heated remarks relating to the legality of sewerage arrangements at the Hobbs campground, which Turner said was occupied by numerous motor homes for which he said it lacked some required approvals.

Turner charged that the tax abatement program covering Portage Industries’ active sites and sites being marketed to industrial tenants will cost the township revenues. Hobbs angrily denied that, pointing to the jobs provided through RecycAll and present and future tenants.

As for the gas line dug up, Caulkins said that had not been a working line containing gas or hooked to a supply or to a building. He had been asked to locate the plastic line for future use, as he set about some site preparation and sought information for the permit applications.

In calm periods of the meeting, the supervisors went back to a delayed decision concerning bids for supplying excavating equipment and operators, and voted to accept the offer of Brad Greenman Excavating, based on its offer of $90 per hour for a bulldozer with operator, and $85 per hour for a full-sized excavator with operator.