Jessup News Post - July 2009

Township Meeting was held at 7:30 PM on 1 July.

Bids were opened for purchase of 1000 yards of cinders. The two bids were discussed and the higher bid, by Keefer Trucking, was selected over the bid by Brown Farm. The selection was made due to the ability of Keefer to deliver tonnage more rapidly with price certainty since it's bid was firm while the other bid had a clause allowing unknown price increases based on fuel costs.

The issue of natural gas pipelines and seismic testing along township roads was discussed again because a gas company had informed the town that it planned to do seismic testing along a town road. It was decided to inform a concerned resident on that road of the planned activity. The town officials hope to meet with a Cabot representative soon to discuss Cabot's plans; Cabot is expected to begin activity here in the Fall. The roadmaster again voiced opposition to pipelines along road right of ways; but that issue may be raised again.

The township will explore leasing its property for gas exploration.

The township met with the NTC to resolve the issue of payments for composting equipment. About half the NTC towns are using the equipment and half are not. We are not, but are still liable for paying our share of costs. It was decided to reimburse the NTC for past costs ( or dues) of about $470; but to stipulate that no further costs/dues would be paid and that the equipment should be used by those that want it.

An opportunity to buy a used JD544 loader was discussed. The loader would cost $7000 and about another $10,000 for repairs. It's value would be substantially higher once fixed and the costs might be offset partially by sale of the existing older loader. A motion was passed to purchase the JD544 loader and to advertise the old loader for sale.

The next township meeting will be August 5 at 7:30PM. The next NTC meeting will be held August 20 at 7 PM in Middletown.

The county gas task force meeting is scheduled for 9:30AM Thursday, 23July. It is held in the street level conference room of the County Office Building; it often overflows into the Economic Development Board meeting at 10AM in the lower level conference room.

I have another meeting that morning and may not attend; so I'll post the July News now.

Playing Politics with State Police Services

My attention was caught by this rather disturbing article last week : Surcharge looming for police coverage - Susquehanna Independent Weekender, which stated "Under House Bill 1500, municipalities that rely solely on state police for its law enforcement would be charged based on its population. During the first year in effect, the fee would be $52 per person. It would rise to $104 per person the second year, and $156 each year after that."

For a 750 person township, the annual tab starts at $39,000 rising to $117,000 in three years. But why do this? There is a very good case that 2nd class townships already pay enough taxes for the level of State Police services needed and actually received. I have seen very few troopers drive past my farm in the last 10 years -- maybe one every 2-3 years on average. The last time was a night when they were looking for some fugitives from a Vestal area robbery who had fled down Route 267.

So, if this bill is not needed to pay for excessive street patrolling, why is it being considered?

You can read House Bill 1500(pdf) here. It passed the State Government Committee on 1 July 2009 with 13 Democrat votes in favor and all 11 Republicans and 1 Democrat voting against. It is now in the Rules Committee.

OK, so we know it is a strongly Democrat partisan bill. And we know that the House just passed a budget bill that spends far more than the House Republicans proposed or than the Senate passed in their SB 850.

Governor Rendell and the Democrats want to increase spending in the face of a severe revenue shortfall. If you won't cut spending, then you have to raise taxes directly or indirectly by forcing others (counties and towns) to pay for mandated services that can reduce state funding obligations.

This makes HB 1500 look like a bargaining chip for an upcoming House - Senate budget conference that will be needed to get a consolidated budget bill passed and signed. I believe that is a key reason for this bill being pushed now by the Democrats. But not the only reason.

A town can avoid the HB 1500 mandated fees by having a 24/7 full time police force or joining in a regional police force. A town can reduce the fee to one third the full charge by having a part time police force or participating in a regional one. Could this bill be another State Government push to force townships to consolidate services - whether needed or not?

Who gets the money collected from townships by HB 1500?

Well, the first $20,000,000 goes to a special account to fund "additional" State Police cadet classes. That's interesting. I wonder do they think they will need more classes and State Police to provide the same services as now and that towns will opt to pay the fees rather than join regional police forces? Or do they just hope that there will be enough up front money for a while to cover some budget reductions in normal funding for those classes?

After that $20 Million set aside, the rest is split 90% to the Motor License Fund and 10% to DCED. DCED is required to use its funds for "assisting and encouraging municipalities to enter into cooperative arrangements to provide police services".

So, the money follows the political goal of consolidating townships, or their services, into regional arrangements. All accomplished by State mandates that withdraw money from townships and offer to return a portion if they follow the State's political guidance. Note that the State can not force township consolidation without modification of the constitution; but the same result can approached by these means.

How likely is this bill to pass and how likely is "consolidation" to be forced on townships?

I do not have even a cloudy magic ball to foretell political events. But I suspect HB 1500 will go nowhere beyond being a pawn in the big budget battle. Remember that it passed committee with 100% Republican opposition and with 1 Democrat joining the Republicans. The Democrats may control the House, but not the Senate.

As for "consolidation", I think there will be continued pressure as long as the Democrats have the Governorship and at least one legislative body. I also think it can be successfully resisted.

Many township officials came back from the April annual PSATS meeting in Harrisburg concerned about a strongly pro-consolidation speech given by the Acting Secretary of DCED. Some took his speech as threatening consolidation. The resultant political backlash caused Gov. Rendell to place a full page "Message" in the July edition of PSATS Township News proclaiming he has "no intention of calling for the merger, consolidation, or elimination of townships."

Of course, Gov. Rendell also recognized the "efficiency of shared services and cooperation, but that should be encouraged, rather than mandated." That is a good policy statement. The key issue is making sure that the State's encouragement is not coupled to unfunded service mandates or reductions.

HB 1500 crosses that line - just like the DCED Acting Secretary's consolidation speech did. And just like that speech, voter and township pressure can keep the State "consolidators" at bay. We just need to keep fighting back and making our opinions known to our representatives.

A Tea Party for The Nation's Birthday

This was a great Fourth of July!

The sun was shining and the rain was not falling. We were able to get our horses out for an hour of trail riding along green pathways and mountain vistas.

We went to the first - and thus far, only - Tea Party in Susquehanna County. It was quite an event and we have the photos that show it. Any time you get more people to show up in a field than there are hay bales, it's a success.

I counted over a hundred folks and that's a lot for us. Admittedly, some of us left early - it may be a holiday, but the animals still need to be fed.

The talks at the Tea Party were on target, expressing our feelings about a government that has abandoned those who work hard and save for those who expect a bailout for not working or saving. We had adults discussing that; we had children talking about history and work as the key to success in America. We had some good posters.

None of us want to pass a huge debt on to our children and grandchildren. We want the government to stop the insanity of going deeper into debt to "fix" the economic problems caused by prior unconscionable debt and loan policies.

The "party" location in South Montrose is notable itself. It is a field that was converted into a memorial by the Crisman family for their son, Daniel, who died in the 9/11 attack and then extended for all those who lost their lives in that attack. Their names are engraved on stone tablets in a semi-circle around the area in which the speakers addressed us.

We are rural Americans. We remember the sacrifices that were made and the families that still bear the burdens. Not just our neighbors; but throughout America. We are disappointed in the politicians and leaders who don't share our faith in ourselves to meet the future with our own industry, wisdom , and patriotism.

Some speakers called for leaders, who believe in us, to come forward and identify themselves; feeling that there were no such leaders and we need to find new ones. I agree that there are few, but not none. We need to find each other.

That brings me to my final action this 4th of July. After reading Governor Palin's resignation speech several times at SarahPAC (also on video here ), I have contributed to her PAC and the Alaska Trust Fund that pays her personal legal bills from baseless attacks. Regardless of what some prominent public commentators may say, I believe that she is not running from the fight or abandoning a political career. I believe she is choosing to abandon "politics as usual" to pursue an independent path to break the current political bureaucracy's hold on America.

I hope to see more of her on the political scene as a strong independent voice for bringing us back to the America that we "Tea Party" folks want. Her goals for America are straightforward and match mine : Free Enterprise; Smaller Government; Strong National Security; and Energy Independence. I believe these are the prime priorities for our future.

It's been a great 4th of July. Good weather; good horses; good people seeking a way ahead for America; and a real "Stand-Up" leader making a hard choice for our sake.