Commissioners, Supervisors Address
Drilling, Code Enforcement Issues
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
Most of the oil and gas drilling companies working in the county have been cooperative in fixing the roads they damage, according to McKean County Commissioners.
Commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Judy Church attended Monday’s Foster Township Supervisors meeting as part of their effort to attend meetings in every municipality in the county. So far, in three months, they’ve visited 20 of 22 municipalities.
Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry asked who’s responsible for making sure the companies adhere to weight limits, and take care of damaged roads.
Pingie said it’s up to the municipalities to make sure the companies are following the rules and regulations.
“So far … they’ve been very good about taking care of the roads,” Church said. “They replaced a road in Norwich Township.”
She said supervisors met with the drilling company, got an estimate for road repairs and company paid it.
DeMott added that the companies have been cooperative.
“Most of the townships feel they’re being left with better roads than when (the drillers) came in,” he said.
So far most drilling has been done in the southern part of the county – Sergeant and Norwich townships – but some sites in Liberty and Hamlin townships are being considered for Marcellus Shale wells, DeMott said.
He added that it’s important for township officials to have contact with the company before drilling starts.
Township Supervisor Chairman Bob Slike added that, in seminars on Marcellus Shale drilling held at Pitt-Bradford, experts recommended having an agreement with the companies
“Nine times out of 10 it will work out fine,” Slike said.
Church added that the state is in the process of adding more inspectors to check roads drilling companies are using.
Water quality in drilling areas is another issue.
“I’m real concerned now about my water,” said Bolivar Drive resident Joe Martin. “Hopefully the drilling is not going to destroy it.”
Supervisor Jim Connelly Jr. said anyone who’s concerned should get a certified water survey so they have “something to fall back on” if water is affected by drilling.
DeMott added that his is a concern a lot of people are addressing and that the Penn State Cooperative Extension also suggests certified testing. He added that if water is affected within 1,000 feet of a drilling operation, the assumption is that it’s from the drilling.
In other matters, South Kendall Avenue resident Barbara Price again raised concerns about blighted and junk-laden properties on her road that are in “deplorable” condition.
“It’s not a nice sight to be seen,” she said. “People coming into Bradford are looking at that street.’
Later in the meeting, code enforcement officer John Place added some of the properties are in foreclosure, which poses a problem.
He said he talked with a representative from Bank of America about a property on South Second Street. He said she told him they are dealing with so many properties worth six and seven figures that their legal department is “stretched to the limit.”
“This is small potatoes to them. They're going to do the big money jobs first,” he said, adding that they haven’t come up with much of solution. He did say that he believes one of the properties will be up for judicial sale in September.
Also Monday, Connelly noted that the township will be asking for a traffic study from PennDOT in the hopes of installing a left turn signal at the Foster Brook intersection.
Traffic studies have been done in the past, but Connelly said it's time to revisit the issue.
“With the growth we've got down there in Foster Brook -- especially with Edmonds down there, WalMart -- it’s time for a left turning (signal),” he said. “It’s a mess down there. We've got to get something done."
They're waiting to hear back from PennDOT.
In other matters, supervisors accepted a bid from Casella’s Waste of Olean to collect trash from the municipal building, shop and park. This does not include any residential pick up.
As for a change in residential pick up, supervisors said they are still studying the matter.
Supervisors also approved a resolution opposing a move by the state Legislature that would mandate consolidation of municipalities and put them under the purview of county commissioners.
Even the author of the House bill, Representative Thomas Caltagirone, says he doesn’t see much likelihood of the bill passing this year. It’s currently in the House Local Government Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says it’s a novel idea, but believes the state should not impose it on communities.
In order for a change to take place, the state Constitution would have to be amended. For that to happen, the bill would have to pass both the House and Senate through votes in two separate Legislative sessions, and would then have to pass by statewide referendum.
WESB/WBRR News Director
Most of the oil and gas drilling companies working in the county have been cooperative in fixing the roads they damage, according to McKean County Commissioners.
Commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Judy Church attended Monday’s Foster Township Supervisors meeting as part of their effort to attend meetings in every municipality in the county. So far, in three months, they’ve visited 20 of 22 municipalities.
Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry asked who’s responsible for making sure the companies adhere to weight limits, and take care of damaged roads.
Pingie said it’s up to the municipalities to make sure the companies are following the rules and regulations.
“So far … they’ve been very good about taking care of the roads,” Church said. “They replaced a road in Norwich Township.”
She said supervisors met with the drilling company, got an estimate for road repairs and company paid it.
DeMott added that the companies have been cooperative.
“Most of the townships feel they’re being left with better roads than when (the drillers) came in,” he said.
So far most drilling has been done in the southern part of the county – Sergeant and Norwich townships – but some sites in Liberty and Hamlin townships are being considered for Marcellus Shale wells, DeMott said.
He added that it’s important for township officials to have contact with the company before drilling starts.
Township Supervisor Chairman Bob Slike added that, in seminars on Marcellus Shale drilling held at Pitt-Bradford, experts recommended having an agreement with the companies
“Nine times out of 10 it will work out fine,” Slike said.
Church added that the state is in the process of adding more inspectors to check roads drilling companies are using.
Water quality in drilling areas is another issue.
“I’m real concerned now about my water,” said Bolivar Drive resident Joe Martin. “Hopefully the drilling is not going to destroy it.”
Supervisor Jim Connelly Jr. said anyone who’s concerned should get a certified water survey so they have “something to fall back on” if water is affected by drilling.
DeMott added that his is a concern a lot of people are addressing and that the Penn State Cooperative Extension also suggests certified testing. He added that if water is affected within 1,000 feet of a drilling operation, the assumption is that it’s from the drilling.
In other matters, South Kendall Avenue resident Barbara Price again raised concerns about blighted and junk-laden properties on her road that are in “deplorable” condition.
“It’s not a nice sight to be seen,” she said. “People coming into Bradford are looking at that street.’
Later in the meeting, code enforcement officer John Place added some of the properties are in foreclosure, which poses a problem.
He said he talked with a representative from Bank of America about a property on South Second Street. He said she told him they are dealing with so many properties worth six and seven figures that their legal department is “stretched to the limit.”
“This is small potatoes to them. They're going to do the big money jobs first,” he said, adding that they haven’t come up with much of solution. He did say that he believes one of the properties will be up for judicial sale in September.
Also Monday, Connelly noted that the township will be asking for a traffic study from PennDOT in the hopes of installing a left turn signal at the Foster Brook intersection.
Traffic studies have been done in the past, but Connelly said it's time to revisit the issue.
“With the growth we've got down there in Foster Brook -- especially with Edmonds down there, WalMart -- it’s time for a left turning (signal),” he said. “It’s a mess down there. We've got to get something done."
They're waiting to hear back from PennDOT.
In other matters, supervisors accepted a bid from Casella’s Waste of Olean to collect trash from the municipal building, shop and park. This does not include any residential pick up.
As for a change in residential pick up, supervisors said they are still studying the matter.
Supervisors also approved a resolution opposing a move by the state Legislature that would mandate consolidation of municipalities and put them under the purview of county commissioners.
Even the author of the House bill, Representative Thomas Caltagirone, says he doesn’t see much likelihood of the bill passing this year. It’s currently in the House Local Government Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says it’s a novel idea, but believes the state should not impose it on communities.
In order for a change to take place, the state Constitution would have to be amended. For that to happen, the bill would have to pass both the House and Senate through votes in two separate Legislative sessions, and would then have to pass by statewide referendum.
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