By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

As New Garden Township enters its third month of 2021 flush with a significant cash flow from the recent sale of its wastewater system to Aqua Pa., Inc., its Board of Supervisors used their Feb. 16 online meeting to formally introduce the township’s top project priorities for the year.

At their Jan. 19 online meeting, the board shared how and where the township will allocate the profits from the sale of its wastewater system on Dec. 21, 2020, which as of the transaction’s closing came to $29,756,567. The board said that $21,774,761 will be funneled back into the township’s investment portfolio, for possible use over the next decade to 20 years.

From that sizable figure, the township will spend an estimated $2.3 million on the following projects in 2021:

·   Saint Anthony’s in the Hills: A ten-year project to continue the development of the property, now owned by the township, that includes the creation of a committee and property clean-up

·    Egypt Run Bridge: Replacement of existing bridge and construction of new bridge, projected to begin on June 1 and be completed by July 15

·     Scarlett Road Trail: Two-year project to develop a trail system

·     Waterline extension at the New Garden Flying Field: One-year project that will likely begin in May

·    Broad Run Creek: Additional clean-up and repair of stormwater erosion in the vicinity of the planned White Clay Point development and St. Anthony in the Hills

·    Newark Road-Baltimore Pike intersection: On-going project that is slated for eventual development

·    Toughkenamon Streetscapes Improvement Plan: Sidewalk development for Newark Road and Main Street in the Village of Toughkenamon

·    In addition, the township intends to develop opportunities for the purchase of additional open space; update its zoning rules and regulations related to development in the township; and create additional TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) recommendations.

A formal presentation to introduce these projects is being planned for an upcoming township meeting.

In other township business, the board approved a motion to proceed with the Pennsylvania Local Government Invest Trust (PLGIT) Certificate of Deposit Placement Program application and investment advisory agreement, and to authorize the Finance Director Lew Gay to deposit the $22 million from the sale of the township’s wastewater system into PLIGIT’s investment account.

The board also approved a motion to proceed with the replacement of the Egypt Run Road Bridge with Contech Engineered Solutions for an amount not to exceed $92,130, with total budgeted project expense of $191,830.

The board voted to adopt Ord. No. 247, which terminates the existence of the township’s Sewer Authority, given that the sale of its wastewater system to Aqua, Pa. became effective on Dec. 21, 2020.

The board passed Res. No. 838, which authorizes the township to submit a grant application request in the amount of $863,700 to the Chester County Department of Open Space Conservation. If awarded, the grant will be used for funding in the acquisition of additional open space property in the township.

The board approved the purchase of a new chipper, which will be used by the township’s Public Works Department, for a cost not to exceed $68,000. It will be paid for out of the township’s capital fund.

In news from the New Garden Flying Field, Manager Jon Martin said that the building of six 60’ X 60’ box hangars at the airport is in the final stages of construction. Each hangar is equipped with electric Schweiss bifold doors, and each opening is 16 feet tall and 54 feet wide. Each hangar is well insulated, includes two high wall windows for natural light and is fitted with LED high bay lights.

Martin also informed the board that the Flying Field has reached a ten-year goal with the news that its GPS approaches to the airport have been published by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and will go live on Feb. 25.

Martin also announced that the airport is the recipient of a $23,000 grant from the FAA’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provides approximately $10 billion to support U.S. airports that are experiencing severe economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This funding is being distributed to airports to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Finally, the New Garden board approved the hiring of William Shoenfelt as a full-time aircraft maintenance assistant at the airport.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].