By Jillian Santacroce
At last week’s meeting of the Middletown Board of Supervisors, the police department was presented with a $10,000 check from the Middletown
Community Foundation that will reimburse the township for the cost of the new, furry addition to the police family. K9 Jester will work alongside Officer Andrews.
“On behalf of the township of Middletown, I wish to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us with obtaining this canine so the rest of our rotations up to par with having a sufficient number of dogs for our shifts,” said Tom Gallagher, chairman of the supervisors.
Earlier this year, the Middletown Community Foundation hosted a fundraising promotion for the township’s purchase of a canine for the police department. The Foundation “arrested” three community members, and they were set free because they reached their bail amounts.
In other Middletown news…
Additional donations needed for the Middletown Skate Park
Supervisor Amy Strouse represented Brian’s Harley-Davidson and announced the motorcycle dealer’s $5,000 donation toward the skate park.
“Brian is a quiet man, a man who doesn’t like to boast about his gifts so he didn’t want to come with a big check and do the whole presentation,” said Strouse.
With gifts and grants combined, a little more than $20,000 has been collected for the project. The township has determined that $100,000 is needed for the skate park.
“We recognize the fact that there is a percentage of the population that enjoys things of that nature just like we have all of our baseball parks, our football parks and everything else that we currently take care of,” said supervisors chairman Tom Gallagher.
After the $5,000 donation from Brian Bentley from Brian’s Harley-Davidson, the township is a quarter of the way to its $100,000 goal.
Strouse would love to have residents skating at the park by the time fall comes around, though at the moment there is no estimated completion date for the skate park.
“It’ll keep them from doing it in the parking lots of businesses,” said Township Solicitor Joseph Pizzo. “It’s a safe space to do it.”
The township is still looking for sponsorships.
Anyone interested in making a donation can contact Strouse or the township manager.
2017 Road Program prepares for bid
The Board of Supervisors voted all in favor to advertise the 2017 Road Program bid.
Planning and Zoning Director Pat Duffy, P.E. came in front of the supervisors and laid out 34 roads that would result in roughly nine miles of paving, stormwater enhancements and a new left-hand turn lane at Big Oak Crossing on Big Oak Road that would be included in this year’s road program.
The three improvement projects are estimated to cost a total of about $1.6 million.
The supervisors gave Duffy their approval to go through with the bidding process, which means the bid will be advertised and the low bidder will be examined by the township. The Board of Supervisors will award the bid at the end.
Roads within the Langhorne Gables development, Durham Chase/Meadows between Durham Road and I-95, Hollybrooke and the final paving for Durham Ridge were featured in the presentation.
Village Road, Elmwood Avenue, Mistletoe Drive and Bridle Lane were also mentioned during the paving conversation.
Duffy included that Village Road through Township Line Road and then a right onto Silver Lake Road right at the bridge will be the site of a drainage project and paving.
Duffy told the supervisors details concerning the new left-hand turn will be available soon.
“That’s going to make it a lot safer for cars traveling from Lower Makefield…,” he said.
New additions to the Community Beautification Committee
During the meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted all in favor and appointed Hannah Stackawitz and Jarad Benn to the Community Beautification Committee.
Supervisor Amy Strouse expressed gratitude toward the two for stepping up to become more involved in their community.
“We have had vacancies on this commission for a long time so I’m really glad that we found two interested residents to step up and take those places.”
As new leaders within the Parks, Recreation and Community Services department, Benn and Stackawitz will work with the other committee leaders on various beautification projects in Middletown Township.
The committee is also responsible for increasing the community’s engagement on matters that focus on graffiti, trash and litter.
Supervisors chairman Tom Gallagher announced that there are additional vacancies. Interested residents have been advised to reach out to the township.
