Mall, Flu, More Discussed in FT
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
The Bradford Mall, swine flu and the Derrick City reunion were among the topics discussed during a lengthy Foster Township supervisors meeting Monday night.
Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry asked if anything could be done with the mall to push the owners into doing something.
Township solicitor Dick Mutzabaugh said if codes are being violated the owners could be cited, and he could give further advice when and if that happens.
Township resident Jim Connolly mentioned the Bradford Master Plan, which calls for "cutting the building, more or less, in half" with the stream running between the two halves of the building.
He said if the Office of Economic and Community Development could come up with grant money, and go to the owners saying they and the township want to work with them "and hand them some free money, maybe it would give them some incentive to get the mall … going."
"Isn't the Bradford Mall the most valuable piece of real estate in McKean County?" Connolly asked.
"If we can move a whole mountain for Wal-Mart I don't know why we can't do anything with that Bradford Mall," he said.
Supervisors said the mall owners are not the easiest people to work with, or communicate with but they and the OECD have been attempting to work with them.
In further discussion on the Master Plan, township residents said they're not keen on the idea of their tax dollars going to help the city.
"I can see the point, if you build up Bradford … it's going to help the townships," said supervisor Chris Wolcott, adding that the plans don't have a good economic plan to as how to bring more industry to the area.
"If you don't have people coming in here to work, it doesn't matter how pretty the city is," he said, "there's not going to be anybody to pay for it and enjoy it."
He urged residents to either stop by the municipal building to look at the plan or go to bradfordplan.protocol80.com to see it, and then go to him with comments.
Township resident Linda Marcella has already formed an opinion.
"I think it's stupid," she said.
In other matters, Supervisor Chairman Bob Slike suggested that the township form a municipal board of health
He said in June of last year municipal leaders and healthcare professionals from McKean, Warren, Forest, Cameron and Elk counties were involved in a conference concerning infectious diseases.
During the gathering, Judge John Cleland talked about the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, and the scores of people who died during that outbreak.
Slike said lawmakers in Washington and Harrisburg have already said it would be up to municipal governments to handle a situation like that themselves
"I don't think anybody really took it too seriously that night (a year ago)," he said. "They thought 'Yeah, it happened. It may happen again.'"
Now, with the swine flu scare, he said, people are taking it seriously.
Slike said his daughter (Dr. Jill Owens) and another doctor have expressed interest in sitting on the board.
"It would behoove us, I think, to do this and have it in order should this ever happen," Slike said.
Supervisors did agree to look into forming a board of health.
Also Monday, Connolly commended township residents Pam Fredeen, Kim Graham and Pete Gardner for the Derrick City Reunion they organize every few years, and suggested that it could be turned into an event similar to Otto Township's Old Home Days that may be able to help the Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department.
Also,
~~ Slike mentioned that Betty Cochran had to leave her job with the OECD. She's been battling cancer.
~~ Kaber said grant money will be used to install LED traffic lights in all of McKean County's municipalities and in Jones Township in Elk County.
~~ Slike expressed regret about Firestone closing, but congratulated Crosby's on the re-opening of its service island and wished them continued success
~~ Wolcott noted that BRMC is holding an unwanted household medicines drop-off day from 8 a.m. to noon on May 16.
WESB/WBRR News Director
The Bradford Mall, swine flu and the Derrick City reunion were among the topics discussed during a lengthy Foster Township supervisors meeting Monday night.
Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry asked if anything could be done with the mall to push the owners into doing something.
Township solicitor Dick Mutzabaugh said if codes are being violated the owners could be cited, and he could give further advice when and if that happens.
Township resident Jim Connolly mentioned the Bradford Master Plan, which calls for "cutting the building, more or less, in half" with the stream running between the two halves of the building.
He said if the Office of Economic and Community Development could come up with grant money, and go to the owners saying they and the township want to work with them "and hand them some free money, maybe it would give them some incentive to get the mall … going."
"Isn't the Bradford Mall the most valuable piece of real estate in McKean County?" Connolly asked.
"If we can move a whole mountain for Wal-Mart I don't know why we can't do anything with that Bradford Mall," he said.
Supervisors said the mall owners are not the easiest people to work with, or communicate with but they and the OECD have been attempting to work with them.
In further discussion on the Master Plan, township residents said they're not keen on the idea of their tax dollars going to help the city.
"I can see the point, if you build up Bradford … it's going to help the townships," said supervisor Chris Wolcott, adding that the plans don't have a good economic plan to as how to bring more industry to the area.
"If you don't have people coming in here to work, it doesn't matter how pretty the city is," he said, "there's not going to be anybody to pay for it and enjoy it."
He urged residents to either stop by the municipal building to look at the plan or go to bradfordplan.protocol80.com to see it, and then go to him with comments.
Township resident Linda Marcella has already formed an opinion.
"I think it's stupid," she said.
In other matters, Supervisor Chairman Bob Slike suggested that the township form a municipal board of health
He said in June of last year municipal leaders and healthcare professionals from McKean, Warren, Forest, Cameron and Elk counties were involved in a conference concerning infectious diseases.
During the gathering, Judge John Cleland talked about the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, and the scores of people who died during that outbreak.
Slike said lawmakers in Washington and Harrisburg have already said it would be up to municipal governments to handle a situation like that themselves
"I don't think anybody really took it too seriously that night (a year ago)," he said. "They thought 'Yeah, it happened. It may happen again.'"
Now, with the swine flu scare, he said, people are taking it seriously.
Slike said his daughter (Dr. Jill Owens) and another doctor have expressed interest in sitting on the board.
"It would behoove us, I think, to do this and have it in order should this ever happen," Slike said.
Supervisors did agree to look into forming a board of health.
Also Monday, Connolly commended township residents Pam Fredeen, Kim Graham and Pete Gardner for the Derrick City Reunion they organize every few years, and suggested that it could be turned into an event similar to Otto Township's Old Home Days that may be able to help the Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department.
Also,
~~ Slike mentioned that Betty Cochran had to leave her job with the OECD. She's been battling cancer.
~~ Kaber said grant money will be used to install LED traffic lights in all of McKean County's municipalities and in Jones Township in Elk County.
~~ Slike expressed regret about Firestone closing, but congratulated Crosby's on the re-opening of its service island and wished them continued success
~~ Wolcott noted that BRMC is holding an unwanted household medicines drop-off day from 8 a.m. to noon on May 16.
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