2009 News
May 21, 2009
Preserving the Beauty of Bucks
Commissioners Unanimously Approve Open-Space Acquisition of Solebury Township’s 45-acre Ingham Spring and Aquetong Lake Property
Seated behind the magnificent, 23-foot Nakashima designed head meeting table of the Solebury Township Municipal Building, the Bucks County Commissioners, Chairman Charles H. Martin, Jim Cawley and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW today approved 24 contracts involving 12 county departments. Fittingly, two of those contracts added to the county’s steadily growing stockpile of preserved open space.
Solebury Township, which consistently has taken a leadership role in the preservation of undeveloped open space, was pleased to host the meeting during which a $600,000, Natural Areas Program Grant was approved for the fee simple acquisition of 45 acres of Ingham Spring and Aquetong Lake, which is located at the intersection of Lower York and Lower Mountain roads. According to Solebury Township Supervisor Mike Kennerley, the property was previously owned by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The township will contribute $723,000 to the purchase price. “I can’t thank the county enough for recognizing the value of this property,” Supervisor Kennerley noted, adding that Ingham Spring is the largest cold water limestone spring in the Delaware Valley. “Preservation is an ongoing effort, and Bucks County has a good bit of heritage.”
The board also approved the $335,000 acquisition of 20 acres of parkland adjacent to the Bucks County Horse Park in Nockamixon Township in lieu of condemnation. According to county Executive Parks & Recreation Director Bill Mitchell, the approval will lift the total acreage of the Horse Park to 168.
The commissioners untabled a $182,850 contract to replace the roof of the administration building at 55 E. Court St. in Doylestown Borough. According to General Services Director Jerry Anderson, the energy efficient “white” roof will offer cost savings and a 20-year materials warranty for a roof that is 20 years old. Additionally, all of the old materials that are removed will be recycled – mirroring a similar project that was completed recently on the roof of the county Health Department building. This is part of the county’s ongoing commitment to “green technology.”
Municipal planning services through the Bucks County Planning Commission remain in great demand. The commissioners approved three contracts involving the Planning Commission, including an $84,000 with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to conduct ongoing transportation planning, a $4,330 contract to update New Hope Borough’s Open Space Plan, and a $5,780 contract to update Perkasie Borough’s Open Space Plan.
Commissioner Cawley amplified on the approval of a grant application to secure a 60-acre conservation easement on the grounds of the Pearl S. Buck Foundation by praising late Northampton Township Supervisor and foundation Board of Directors member John Long for his vision in bring the grant to fruition. Cawley noted that Mr. Long considered the easement to be the “crowning achievement” of his work with the Pearl S. Buck Foundation.
All of the 24 contracts were approved, although Chairman Martin voted against a Human Resources policy update involving drug and alcohol testing for county employees involved in county vehicle accidents and Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia voted against a Children & Youth residential care services contract with Don Guanella School and abstained from another Children & Youth community residential rehabilitation and treatment services contract with Northwestern Human Services of Bucks County.
During his Chief Operating Officer’s report, David Sanko reported on voter turnout during Tuesday’s Municipal Primary Election, which was extremely light. According to Mr. Sanko, Republican total voters approached 24,000 while there were only 20,000 Democrats who came to the polls. Approximately 12.8 percent of the county’s registered Republican voters participated, while 10.2 percent of registered Democrats went to the polls. Last November, over 18,000 absentee ballots were cast in Bucks County. This week, just over 1,000 were cast.
Mr. Sanko also noted that the county is researching the impact and number of its employees whose salaries are reimbursed partially or in total by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the event of a summer state budget impasse, these employees, according to Governor Rendell, may have their pay withheld temporarily until the state budget is passed.
The commissioners also issued four proclamations and three commendations. They recognized 2009 High School Poet Laureate Jordyn Kimelheim; Emergency Medical Services Week (May 17-23) and the members of the Bucks County STRIKE team that traveled to Louisiana to assist with recovery efforts following Hurricanes Ike and Gustav; the Cordus Mundi singing group; and Soil and Water Stewardship Week in conjunction with the Bucks County Conservation District (BCCD). The BCCD also honored three 2009 award winners, including Individual Educator of the Year Jared Hottenstein of Jamison Elementary School, Conservation Organization of the Year Spectra Energy, and Volunteer of the Year, Dr. Robert Stanfield.
The next meeting of the Bucks County Commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3 at the Upper Southampton Fire Company, 925 Street Rd., Southampton, PA.