Drilling, Speeding are Issues in FT

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director

At least one Foster Township resident is concerned about how the increased oil drilling in the area will affect her well water.

Lori Vickery of Interstate Parkway told Foster Township supervisors during their meeting Monday night that "at least 150 wells" are going in on the hill behind her house.

She said "it's already really noisy (and) we're all concerned about contamination of our water wells because there's no city water hook-ups up there."

When Supervisor Chairman Bob Slike asked if anyone had tested her water, Vickery said "I don't' trust any of them. I don't trust the DEP; I don't trust the oil drillers, none of them."

Supervisor Chris Wolcott said in the current issue of the township supervisors magazine there's an article that says "drillers have all the rights."

"There's very little municipalities can do," he said, "but storm water runoff is one of the issues we do have control over."

"If you notice that, let us know and we can follow up on that," he said. "Have (the water) tested. If something develops, you'll have a before and after."

They suggested she contact Jim Clark from the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in Smethport.

Vickery said she's also concerned about the drillers' trucks speeding Interstate Parkway.

"When they come by my house, they're flying," she said.

Interstate Parkway resident Joe Piganelli, Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry, and Derrick Road resident Kevin Abbott are also concerned about speeding.

Abbott said over the weekend he saw a van going 75 to 80 mph on Derrick Road "and I'm being generous – this thing was movin'"

Perry said vehicles on Seaward go "like rockets" and he's concerned about people getting hurt.

They all said they're concerned about people on bicycles and people walking more now that the weather is nice.

Wolcott said the police department did 37 speed checks in the last month in different places

Although Supervisor Cary Kaber and Wolbert don't think the speed has to be reduced on Seaward, Wolbert said if enough residents say they want it lowered, the supervisors will take the next step and take the issue to the state.

Also Monday night, Tom Pessia of Patterson Lane asked the supervisors when something would be done about the condition of that road. They, along with roads supervisor Joe Sweet, said they're waiting for four residents to get new drainage pipes for their driveways before doing anything with the road.

"There's no sense in fixing it if the rain is going to wash it away," Sweet said.

In other matters, the supervisors awarded a bid to Eads Group of Altoona for $7,000 to do the wetlands delineation for the South Kendall Avenue Sewer Extension Project

They also entered into an agreement to allow the state to install new LED traffic lights like those at the intersection of Davis and Main streets in the city. Kaber said the lights use less than one-quarter of the energy that the current lights use.

Also, Slike thanked BJ Campbell for putting flags on Derrick Road.

Gorrell noted that the brick walkway at Foster Brook park is finished. Slike said "it's pretty impressive." Anyone who still wants to buy a brick can get an order form at the township municipal building.