Road tax increase

Road tax increase
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- Mahoning Township's road tax will increase by 1.5 mills in the new year, bringing total township millage to 10.5.
That will cost residents $15 more per year on $10,000 property valuation. The last increase was five or six years ago for the fire department, according to Supervisor and Treasurer Gil Lucarelli.
The increase was necessary because fire and liability insurance on buildings and workers' compensation payments have nearly doubled from last year, he said.
Township supervisors approved a budget this week listing 2002 general fund expenses as $261,669 compared with $199,372 this year.
New DEP director
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Kelly Burch, chief of Pennsylvania's Office of the Great Lakes since 1995, has been named director of the Department of Environmental Protection's Northwest Regional Office.
He succeeds Steven Beckman, who resigned to take a job as an attorney in private practice, and James Rozakis, assistant regional director, who had filled in as director on an interim basis.
Burch holds a bachelor's degree in geology from Edinboro University and lives in Erie County with his wife and two children. The Northwest Regional covers 12 counties, including Mercer and Lawrence.
Exhibit seeks art
SHARON, Pa. -- Valley Arts Guild is looking for entries for the Jan. 11 opening of its 19th annual Watercolor Exhibit. Entry forms will be accepted until Friday.
Fees are $15 for three entries for guild members and $25 for three entries for nonguild members. Applications are available at the guild at 10 Vine Ave.
More troopers
HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) -- The state is now free to hire more state troopers under a law signed last week by Gov. Mark S. Schweiker.
Schweiker said he plans to have 100 more troopers ready for patrol duty by November 2002.
The law raises the cap on the size of the state police complement to 4,310, an increase of 370 troopers. The cap on troopers has not been raised since 1972.
Schweiker, who signed the bill at the State Police Training Academy, promised additional troopers immediately after he took office on Oct. 5, citing the need for increased protection after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Hiring 100 extra troopers is estimated to cost between $10 million and $12 million in salaries and administrative costs.