A $1.2 Million Borrowing and Fire Hall in Flux

One of the nice things about those long summer nights, combined with Douglass supervisors meetings that rarely last more than an hour, is that you can run out after the meeting and get photos of some of the objects of discussion.

Bingo also continues to be held at the social hall on Route 73.

Chief among these last night was the fall-out from the closure of the Gilbertsville Fire Co. social hall, which came up during the solicitor's report.

The gist of it seems to be that games of chance operating at the social hall may have been a violation of the liquor license, and since the township was the de-facto property owner, that made the township liable for the violations.

The social hall was closed, except for charitable fund-raising events like Bike Night on Aug. 19 and the two-day craft show after Thanksgiving.

We'll have a little more on that in subsequent reports in The Mercury when we have a bit more information.

Also of interest was not only the pending expansion of Gilbertsville animal Hospital, which won preliminary support from the supervisors, but also a proposed use for the intersection of Route 100 and Jackson Road.

The property owners received a positive reception for their zoning variance requests from the supervisors in exchange for committing to working with them on the design of the building.

Proposed Mooney self-storage facility.

Chairman Anthony Kuklinski described the Wawa near that intersection as "rural, but not," and said "the township does not want any big yellow boxes."

Not the bury the lead or anything, but the supervisors also voted unanimously to borrow just under $1.2 to pay for the new township public works building now taking shape on Municipal drive.

The new public works building is taking shape.

Bob Dries, who is overseeing the construction, said the floor slab has been poured and walls are going up on the new facility.

He said the roof joists should be in position shortly and that some utilities have already been put in position.

The township broke ground on the new building on a rainy day in May and Dries said work is progressing quickly enough that "we should have everything under roof by winter."

That's about it for last night's meeting. Here are the Tweets.

Pottstown Rotary Holds Designer Bag Bingo Sept. 25

The Rotary Club of Pottstown will stage a "Back to School Designer Purse Bingo Fundraiser" on Friday, Sept. 25.

The event, which will feature a fun night of Bongo, 50/50 raffle, Chinese auction, door prizes and food, will be held at the Gilbertsville Fire Company, 1454 E. Philadelphia Ave.

Original purse designers include Dooney & Bourke, Michael Kors, Coach, Kare Spade and more.

The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with bongo starting at 7 p.m.

Reserved tables are available.

Tickets are $25 per person and can be obtained by calling Lori Musson at 610-505-0341.

They will also be available at the door.

Proceeds will be used to support the Rotary Club of Pottstown's Sixth Annual Performing Arts Competition scholarship awards program for area high school youth.

More than $3,000 in scholarships will be awarded in this year's contest.

Honors and Mountains of Mulch

Photo by Evan Brandt

Members of the Gilbertsville Fire Co. listen to awards being given to Chief Rick Smith and Harvey Price for serve that, combined among the two, adds up to more than 90 years.

Photo by Evan Brandt

Fire Chief Rick Smith, left, and Harvey Price.

Last night's meeting of the Douglass (Mont.) Board of Supervisors was quite but
fruitful.

State Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist., was on hand to provide awards from the House of Representatives to longtime firefighters Rick Smith and Harvey Price.

Together the two of them represent more than 90 years of service to the residents of Gilbertsville. "It doesn't seem that long," said Price.

Then the board got down to some less pleasant business at hand.

The agreement with Mountain Mulch to leave their operation on Sassamansville Road and find a new place to do business expired on March 31.

But they're still there, as neighbor Karen Keyser attested.

So the board has decided to seek sanctions from the county court.

But it may all be moot.

Dave Yusko told the board he is hoping to sign an agreement of sale for the property within several days and return it to its former agricultural use and raise horses there.

All expressed the hope that this happens soon.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting.