Recycling bins will not be put in township

There will be no township spring cleanup this year.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Union Township supervisors have no plans to move recycling bins to the township property.

Supervisor Clair Damon responded to a resident’s question at Thursday’s meeting about whether the township will do anything now that Lawrence County has removed recycling bins from the parking lot at nearby Wal-Mart’s on West State Street.

Damon replied, “The county commissioners asked if we wanted them here and I said no.”

He added that the county removed the recycling bins from the Wal-Mart parking lot because people were dumping garbage, not recyclables.

He said a similar problem occurred here when the township had recycling containers on township property several years ago. The township finally had the recycling igloos removed.

He noted that recycling is mandated in Union Township, and that depending on who their garbage collection company is, many residents pay a monthly fee for recycling.

He said there are still county bins at the courthouse and in Shenango Township.

No spring cleanup

Also Thursday, Damon said there will be no spring cleanup in the township this year. In response to a question by resident Carol Cassidy, Damon said that the pickup cost more than $18,000 last year and that he thinks it should be done only every two years because of the cost.

Supervisor Kevin Guinaugh said supervisors are trying to determine who owns several bicycles being kept in the township garage. The bicycles were taken there after being lost or stolen, he said. Residents can claim them by coming to the township building during office hours. Those not claimed will be given to a charity, Guinaugh said.

Supervisors approved purchase of a Ford 350 pickup from the state purchasing program for $33,330. The truck will replace one that cannot pass inspection. The township had six trucks before the purchase.

They approved replacing soffit and facia on the township building, a job that will cost under $3,000 and will be done by an Amish crew.

Speeding complaints

Several residents complained about speeding on West State Street, especially during hours when school buses pick up children. They also complained about motorists cutting through parking lots of local businesses to save time. Damon said this used to be illegal but now is only a violation if the property owner complains about it.

Damon said the township is no longer installing driveway pipe even if residents buy the pipe. He said that this was done in the previous administration but that several residents still owe the township money for driveway pipe. He said the township is, however, cleaning ditches and continuing street sweeping.