BUCKINGHAM — Planning commissioners in Buckingham have recommended funding for the Route 56 solid waste recycling center to become a manned site, a new solid waste vehicle, a new utility vehicle for the County’s recreation department, and a new Jaws of Life tool for the Glenmore Volunteer Fire Department as part of capital improvement projects (CIP).

The three requests were approved unanimously by commissioners following a public hearing on each request at their January 27 meeting.

“It is state law that the planning commission look at the capital improvements…One of the main things to keep in mind is our Comprehensive Plan and our goals…and whether these projects are capital in nature, meaning that they are going to service a large amount of our public…and work towards what we have in the Comprehensive Plan,” explained the County’s Planning and Zoning Administrator Rebecca S. Cobb.

In response to a question from District Six Commissioner Chet Maxey, she told the audience that the requests are forwarded to the finance department after approval, for budgetary consideration.

County supervisors would make the ultimate call of whether or not to fund the requests.

Solid Waste

The first request, submitted by Lyn Hill, the County’s solid waste supervisor and code enforcement officer, was for $110,000.

In his request, he details that $100,000 would purchase a new trash truck, while the remaining $10,000 would be put towards manning the Route 56 solid waste recycling center.

“(We) need to replace the old trash truck that we have. Our substitute trucks are 12 years old and older. We would spend less money on fuel and spend less time in the shop with a new truck. We could increase productivity by having a new truck, as our older trucks are very slow.”

Regarding manning the Route 56 solid waste site, Hill told The Herald in a recent telephone interview that he would like to see it happen, but the decision lies ultimately with the Board of Supervisors.

“As it stands right now, they (supervisors) voted to rescind their action from December 14 (closing the County’s four unmanned solid waste sites), and if it doesn’t happen, that $10,000 will not be used for that…if the County does not decide to man that site. I would like to see it get manned…”

The $10,000 would be put towards the purchasing of a shed for the dumpster site and electrical services for the site.

Recreation

The second request commissioners approved was a utility vehicle not to exceed $15,000 to be used for grounds maintenance at the Gene Dixon Sr. Memorial Ball Park.

“With adding more acres of land to (the) park and ball fields, comes more work. I would like to purchase a utility vehicle to help work on ball fields as well as carrying other supplies and equipment over our 47-acre park. The vehicle will help cut time on working on our ball fields and will be more beneficial to our taxpayer’s investment in the park,” County recreation director Todd Shumaker details in his request.

Shumaker explains that the vehicle would be equipped with a drag system and space for other equipment in preparing the fields for play.

Glenmore VFD

The third and final request was submitted by Tommy Joe Steger with the Glenmore Volunteer Fire Department, which asked for $10,000 for a new Jaws of Life tool.

In his request submitted to commissioners, he offers that the tool is used to cut individuals from motor vehicle and farming accidents. He details that the present set is very old, heavy, and inefficient.

After each public hearing, Cobb explained that the funds for the requests, if ultimately granted, would come from the County’s end-of-year balance within its budget.