Farewell to Sgt. Greenwood and Bamboo in Lower

Photo by Evan Brandt

THANKS SGT: Congratulating Lower Pottsgrove Police Sgt. Robert Greenwood, third from left, on his retirement after 34 years of service to the township police department last night were, from left, Township Commissioners Mike McGroarty, Bob Mohollen. Chairman Bruce Foltz, Ray Lopez, Earl Swavely Jr. and Police Chief Mike Foltz.

At right, a parade held in January was organized by area police in honor of Greenwood's retirement.

The township said goodbye one final time Monday night to retiring Lower Pottsgrove Police Sgt. Robert Greenwood.

Greenwood officially retired in December and in January, police gathered for a parade in his honor.

Monday night it was the commissioners' turn. I was going to embed a video here of what Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz had to say, but since YouTube has decided my wish is not their command, I will instead have include this link and suggest you click here if you want to see it.

Sharon Holloway, from the Pottstown Regional Public Library board

of trustees, invites the commissioners to take a tour of the library.

Several other things of note happened at last night's meeting, which was only 50 minutes long.

Sanatoga Green

Bursich Engineer Chad Camburn reported that the plans for the sewer system at the 500-plus unit Sanatoga Green project was approved and submitted to the state.

"We anticipate PA DEP will reply with comments based on the extremely wet 2018 and its impact on the projected future flows compared to the capacity of the sewer system," Camburn wrote in his report to the commissioners.

He also reported that 32 of the 59 lots in the first phase of the Spring Valley Farms subdivision off Pleasantview Road have been approved and the water, sanitary and stormwater sewer systems for phase 2 have been installed.

2148 E. High St. in Sanatoga.

Self Storage Units

His firm is also reviewing plans for between 177 and 300 self-storage units along North Charlotte Street between Orlando and Mauger's Mill Road.

Another self-storage project, a new $3 million facility at 2148 E. High St., the site of several former car dealerships, is now seeking zoning relief and the commissioners Monday approved a list of 13 conditions Township Manager Ed Wagner will bring to the zoning board and ask for them to be imposed on any approval granted.

Wagner and Camburn also reported that the two phases of the planned improvements at the busy and popular Gerald Richards Park have finally been approved by the Montgomery County Conservation District.

"Finally, after 18 months," said Wagner, who added that the entire approval process was "ridiculous and over-the-top."

Police Report

Police Chief Mike Foltz reported that the department answered 944 calls for service in February, 12 fewer than last February. There were 124 criinal investigations, 28 adults arrewsted and 11 juveniles handled.

He also said police are planning on stepping up enforcement on Lynn Drive, between Cindy Drive and North Adams Street after several residents complained and two accidents occurred there. Pottsgrove High School students who park there will be notified in advance of the enforcement, he said.

There were five arrests at the high school in February, one each for criminal mischief, theft of a laptop computer, a student with a vaping device and a drug violation. the school resource officer also investigated a report of a student with a knife at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School.

New Township Building

The next step in the township's slow-motion decision toward building a new township complex at the corner of East High Street and South Pleasantview Road occurred last night.

The board awarded a bid for the demolition of homes on the parcels the township has purchased. BRB Contractors of King of Prussia will be paid $69,900 to knock the buildings down and cart away the debris.

The Old Bamboo

Bamboo is an invasive species known for speedy growth.

The commissioners also embarked on an unexpected discussion of dealing with bamboo.

Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. provided the commissioners with three examples of ordinances from other townships aimed at controlling or even banning bamboo.

"It's an invasive species and it spreads quickly above ground and below ground," Garner said.

Garner said most ordinances he found allow bamboo where it has already been planted, but prohibits new plantings unless they are contained, say in a pot, where they cannot spread.

"It spreads very quickly and can be very difficult to contain," he said.

This didn't seem to come as a shock to Chairman Bruce Foltz, who said he was aware of one property where it had been planted and subsequently spread to 10 other properties.

The board took no action on a bamboo ordinance, but seem inclined to consider one in the future.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Goodbye Greenwood and the Old Bamboo