Action delayed on ordinance to change church zoning

With no one from the public present, the Polk Township Supervisors' public hearing in regard to changing the township zoning ordinance to amend where churches (religious facilities and places of worship) could be located, ended in just minutes.

That amendment, allowing such entities in a C District as a conditional use, with appropriate requirements, was on the agenda for the regular meeting of the Polk Supervisors.

No action, however, was taken on the matter as the supervisors await the comments on the proposed change from the township planning commission as well as the county planning commission.

Anticipation is that it will be acted upon at the next regularly scheduled supervisors' meeting, Monday, March 22.

The supervisors approved an $800 donation to the West End Ambulance to purchase an AutoPulse. A request for supportive funding was made by the group's administrator, to add to the funding already in hand for the purchase of this vital equipment. It is hoped that other municipalities in the 151-square-mile coverage area for the ambulance corps will be equally as supportive.

The supervisors' support of the Aquaschicola-Pohopoco Watershed was recognized by the group with a wall plaque. It will be hung in the meeting room.

The board agreed to have the codes/zoning officer institute court action concerning the Robert Bates property in Hillside Terrace Acres and reminded residents that new trash permits are now being issued by the township. It is currently the discount period, with permits costing $70. As of April 15, the cost will be $80.

"It's coming," said Supervisor Nancy May of the E-9-1-1 readdressing system. But, the various approvals for the proposed changes have not yet been received. "Hopefully in a couple of months," she said.

Also coming is the township's work on classifying the municipality's roads and streets.

To be researched is the cost and a possible location for disposal of monitors, flat screen televisions and the like and approved was spending $475 as per Palmerton Garage Doors.

The board announced a free forum from 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., April 9, at East Stroudsburg University's Stoney Acres concerning the "Development of Linkages of Key Properties among Monroe County Greenway Systems."