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Wind turbine limits ordinance nearly done for Brady Township

Courier Express|Glenn Schuckers|December 9, 2009
PennsylvaniaZoning/Planning

The Brady Township supervisors moved one step closer to enacting an ordinance regulating the construction of wind turbines by presenting a draft copy of that ordinance at the December meeting. They limited questions and discussion of that ordinance to one-half hour at that meeting but said that there will be a public meeting held at the Community Building Tuesday.


LUTHERSBURG - The Brady Township supervisors moved one step closer to enacting an ordinance regulating the construction of wind turbines by presenting a draft copy of that ordinance at the December meeting.

They limited questions and discussion of that ordinance to one-half hour at that meeting but said that there will be a public meeting held at the Community Building Tuesday, beginning at 6 p.m. Residents and the developer, Iberdrola Renewables U.S.A., can suggest changes. After that, the final draft will be on display. A final vote is expected in January or February.

The proposed ordinance requires an application accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $2,000 per megawatt, payable whether the application is approved or not. The …

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LUTHERSBURG - The Brady Township supervisors moved one step closer to enacting an ordinance regulating the construction of wind turbines by presenting a draft copy of that ordinance at the December meeting.

They limited questions and discussion of that ordinance to one-half hour at that meeting but said that there will be a public meeting held at the Community Building Tuesday, beginning at 6 p.m. Residents and the developer, Iberdrola Renewables U.S.A., can suggest changes. After that, the final draft will be on display. A final vote is expected in January or February.

The proposed ordinance requires an application accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $2,000 per megawatt, payable whether the application is approved or not. The application could be for a single wind turbine or for more than one, but the fee is based on the generating capacity of each turbine.

The draft copy establishes setbacks of 1,250 feet from occupied residences of non-participating landowners and 1.1 times of the turbine height from public roads. The noise level is 45 decibels measured at the occupied residence of a non-participating landowner.

Township Solicitor Blaise Ferraraccio, who wrote the ordinance, said his goal was to write a law that would be fair to the residents who have leases to house turbines, to residents who do not want to participate, to the township itself and to the company who wants to build and operate wind turbines.

Resident Gary Swope questioned the shadow cast by the towers and rotating blades. He said he feels that issue should apply to all of his property and not just his residence. Another resident in the area of three proposed turbines, Jack Gray, asked why the noise levels will be measured at the non-participating landowner's residence, saying that much of the land he owns could be affected by noise. Ferraraccio said that all three supervisors had visited turbines similar those being proposed and had not found the noise to be objectionable. Resident Sharon Gilmore said the low-density sound that people cannot hear causes problems.

Fiber optic cable

On another topic, Steve Williams, representing the company that is laying a new fiber optic cable through the state, informed the supervisors of plans in their jurisdiction. He said that for the most part the cable will follow existing state rights-of-way such as Route 322 which runs west-east through the township.

Gas firm and roads

On yet another topic, Mike Holland from Dominion Gas stated that his company will bond at least three township roads. Supervisor Darryl Beatty said that there may have been some problems with Dominion marking existing gas lines but that he is willing to work with the company in the future. Supervisors chairman Les Wachob said that in all his years as a supervisor be has never had a problem with Dominion and that they have always operated on a handshake. He said that the company has always been ready to pay for damages to any township roads without any questions.

No tax increase

In 2009 the supervisors raised the tax millage one-half mill, Wachob took considerable time off from township work and the township did work for surrounding municipalities. After speaking with supervisor-elect Charlie Muth, who said he does not plan to be a "working supervisor," the board decided that it would keep the current tax rate

That rate is seven mills, which means that a house valued at $50,000 owes some $350 in township taxes if it were assessed at 100 percent of its market value. Muth said that he will be ready to help out when he is needed, such as when roads need to be plowed in the winter or when they are being repaired in the summer, but that since the township already has two full-time employees and Brian Hartzfeld who is a working supervisor, he feels he does not need to work full-time. This would save the township money and was one reason that the current supervisors were able to hold the line on taxes. The budget will be available by calling the secretary, and will be voted on at a special meeting on Dec. 30.

Community site work

Representatives from the Park and Recreation Board also asked the supervisors for permission to make some improvements at the Community Building Number One. The would like to close the balconies in that building and lower the ceiling. Since it would only involve lowering an existing suspended ceiling and would increase the energy efficiency in the building the supervisors voted to approve the changes which will be paid for by the Park and Recreation Auxiliary.

The supervisors also voted to allow the township tax collector to charge for copies that are requested from her. They also voted to charge Ruskin DressIer for 175 tons of road materials (2RC at a cost of $2187) for a road that needed work. They also approved a resolution that Wilson Fisher presented. The resolution was necessary to proceed with the application for the township sewage system. They also voted to advertise for bids for 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 600 gallons of gasoline for the coming year. The supervisors also voted to accept a bid of just over $3,000 for a nine-foot snow plow from Jewell's Auto Shop in Reynoldsville.


Source:http://www.leader-vindicator.…

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