MAR LIN - The Norwegian Township supervisors agreed to proceed with expansion plans for the municipal building at their meeting Monday.
The cost for the addition is about $140,000, said Donald M. Cuff, project engineer with Entech Engineering. Funding has been set aside for the project, Supervisor Stanley Petchulis said.
The supervisors said space is limited at the building at 506 Maple Ave. Plans call for a new meeting room, a conversion of about 20 feet by 40 feet of the current meeting room into an office area, a small lobby area, changes to the hallway area and other small improvements, said Cuff.
"We should be able to be out to bid by April ... and we would expect the construction to be completed by November," Cuff said.
"Sounds good," Petchulis said.
One resident said she thought the money would be better spent on a police officer for the township. The township did have a police officer at one time, but in 2007 the supervisors voted to shut down the department, according to Republican-Herald archives. Residents were against the decision. The township relies on state police at Schuylkill Haven for coverage.
Resident Dave Emery asked the supervisors to consider police services with other municipalities. The supervisors have said they have not considered that at this time. Supervisor Bob Kirwan said the only municipalities that have full-time police are larger, like the city of Pottsville.
"Nobody has full time departments 'cause they can't afford them," Kirwan said.
"We need a police force," Emery said.
Emery, along with other residents, have fallen victim to acts by a neighbor because Emery told the person to refrain from having his dogs barking. The neighbor allegedly spray painted Emery's vehicle in retailiation, causing more than $3,000 damage.
Emery said he witnessed the individual spray painting his vehicle, and state police are aware of the incident.
Township officials said they will direct their solicitor to look into the matter with state police.
The township does have an ordinance regulating such things are barking dogs, but does not have a time specified for when dogs cannot bark.
In other news, the township voted to permit Verizon Wireless to install antennae on a water tower owned by the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, which has granted permission for such use. The antennae will be located 10 feet below the top of the water tank, which is 150 feet high, said Rich Williams, an attorney for Verizon. Other carriers also have antennae on the structure.
Weis Markets is seeking to have a liquor license transferred into the township so it may have a restaurant inside its store at 500 Pottsville Park Plaza to sell beer, according to a letter from the attorney representing the company. The supervisors scheduled a hearing for 6:30 p.m. March 5 about the transfer.