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The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to purchase 701 Kimmerlings Road for the appraised value of $191,000 at Monday’s meeting.
The house on the property was condemned after a truck crashed into it late April, taking out electric service. The former resident reached out to the township about purchasing the property.
While there are no solid plans for the property as of now, supervisors hope to use it to improve the intersection of Kochenderfer/Kimmerlings and State Route 343.
“Anybody who lives in this township knows the danger of crossing that intersection,” said board chairman Ed Brensinger.
Route 343 is a state road, meaning that the township cannot independently decide to make improvements. However, Brensinger said that a PennDOT engineer has been assigned to the intersection and improvements may be on the horizon.
“At this point we have no idea what PennDOT has in store for us, but they are working on something,” he said.
PennDOT may partially reimburse the township for the property if used for improvements, solicitor Amy Leonard said.
In the short term, the home will be demolished, clearing the line of sight somewhat for traffic turning right off of Kimmerlings.
Supervisor Ardy Snook suggested a roundabout, though ultimately the choice is in PennDOT’s hands.
The supervisors also heard from resident Jim Cikovic, who asked about a recent accident with a township truck.
Brensinger, who works for the township as roadmaster, was involved in an accident using his township vehicle for personal use in late July.
Township manager Lori Books was assigned to investigate the incident. While she did not disclose what her findings or the repercussions were, Books said she followed protocol.
“I can tell you that we did an internal investigation, I did speak to the employee involved, and we followed our personnel manual,” Books said. “Unfortunately I’m not at liberty to discuss personnel issues within a public meeting.”
Cikovic voiced concerns that the incident was mishandled, as it had not been disclosed to the public and only came to light due to a resident.
“That was a very serious thing that happened there, to be using a township truck doing private business,” said Cikovic. “In the Marine Corps I would’ve been called unfit for duty if I would’ve did that.”
In other news, supervisors:
- Unanimously agreed to advertise for an informational public meeting to discuss possible police regionalization at Union Canal Elementary School at 6 p.m. Sept. 28.
Read More: North Cornwall and North Lebanon police department merger under consideration
- Unanimously approved the preliminary/final land development plan for Stashaway Storage to relocate storage units to meet current regulations. They also approved a letter of credit totaling $31,300.
- Heard a yearly report from Brianna Laliberte of Lebanon County DES, who said there has been one incident in the last six months.
- Unanimously approved the following budget meeting dates: 6 p.m. Oct. 4, 3 p.m. Oct. 5, after board meeting Oct. 16, 3 p.m. Oct. 19 and 3 p.m. Oct. 25.
- Unanimously agreed to advertise for Ordinance #7 updating and restating the pension plan. This is routine housekeeping, Leonard said.
- Unanimously agreed to release $30,000 from the NLT Fire Company Capital Reserve Fund to Weavertown Fire Company for a loan payment.
- Unanimously agreed to end the probationary period of two maintenance crew members and give both 50 cent per hour pay raises.
- Unanimously agreed to approve a bench dedication at Lenni Lenape Park.
- Heard that the township has been awarded a $1,500 Safety Grant for employee safety, with a 50 percent match.
- Unanimously approved minutes of their Aug. 21 meeting.
- Unanimously agreed to approve payroll subject to audit.
- Heard the police and fire chief’s reports.
North Lebanon supervisors meet at the township municipal building the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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