Scott moves forward on bond issue
Scott Township commissioners took another step toward funding major projects in the municipality by voting unanimously to approve an ordinance for a new bond issue.
Prior to the vote at the June 25 regular meeting, Joe Muscatello of Boenning & Scattergood discussed the details of the bond issue, noting that while the township’s high bond rating and lower level of debt compared to other communities should work in their favor, recent actions by the Federal Reserve have had an effect on the bond market.
The $9 million bond issue will generate $6 million for various projects, with the balance being used to refinance two 2007 bonds.
Some of the projects to be covered by the bond issue include the paving of Rockfield Road, Kane Boulevard, Swallow Hill Road from Greentree Road to Scrubgrass Road, Swallow Hill Road from Greentree to Carnegie, and Finley Avenue from Carothers to Superior.
Work on area springs to mitigate water issues and curbing on Ryan Drive are projects included in the bond issue, as are various upgrades to township facilities, including the reconstruction of tennis courts and the addition of a water feature at the pool at Scott Park, restrooms at Spinner Field, site prep for the Hope Street and East Carnegie parks and a new synthetic ice rink planned for Scott Park.
Muscatello said that the bonds would be offered for sale immediately, but depending on market interest, further advertising of the bonds could be postponed until after July 4. He indicated that money generated by the sale should be available to the township at the end of July or mid-August.
Township engineer Larry Lennon said that bids for Swallow Hill Road would be opened in August. He told the board that since Swallow Hill is being used as a detour for Scrubgrass Road, work can’t begin on Swallow Hill until PennDOT completes their work on Scrubgrass. Lennon said the PennDOT estimates Scrubgrass work will be completed in August.
Ward 2 Commissioner Bill Wells requested an update on the status of why the majority of the residents of his ward did not receive the township’s spring newsletter, “Scott Township News.” Only a few homes in the 400 block of Lindsay Road received the publication, which publishes each spring and fall.
Wells said approximately 500 homes in his ward didn’t receive the magazine-style newsletter, which cost about $1 each. “That’s a lot of money to be wasted,” said Wells.
Scott officials planned to collect unused magazines from the municipal building, apartments and condominiums and distribute them to as much of Ward 2 as possible.
Some of the information in the newsletter, such as township services and pool and recreation information, may be found on Scott’s website, www.scott-twp.com.
Board secretary Kathy Gazda said that a claim for the magazines has been placed with the Green Tree Post Office.
In other business:
• The board unanimously voted to approve an ordinance establishing a 10 percent penalty for all late payments of real estate taxes and interest rates for delinquent taxes.
• Commissioner Stacey Altman requested that a Right to Know form be put on the township’s website. She also requested that the township’s ordinances be available on-line.