2007 News

February 22, 2007

Bucks County Commissioners Preserve 146-Acre Zaveta Farm,Unveil Parking Garage Sketch Plan

Bucks County’s widely popular Agricultural Land Preservation Program received a 146-acre shot of momentum during the Board of Bucks County Commissioners’ meeting today in the courthouse community room. The commissioners, Chairman Charles H. Martin, James F. Cawley, Esq., and Sandra A. Miller, graciously approved the donation, a first for the county, of a Tinicum Twp. conversation easement from Richard and Madeline Zaveta. It became the 101st farm preserved through the program – now in its 19th year.

“This is a great way to head up our initiative to reach a goal of 10,000 preserved farm acres by the end of 2007,” Martin told Mr. Zaveta, whose contribution lifted the county’s agricultural preservation total to 9,314.

Cawley enthusiastically added his appreciation, telling Zaveta, “We thank you, sir, for your generosity.” Miller also thanked the Zaveta family, lauding their “acknowledgement of the agricultural community to the integrity of our county.”

The Zaveta property had been appraised at $14,000 per acre, which equates to a total acquisition value of $2.044 million. As part of a joint easement with the Heritage Conservancy, it represents a “great opportunity for us,” said Bucks County Agricultural Preservation Program Director Rich Harvey. The farm showcases an annual sorghum crop and dozens of acres of scenic pastures. It is also contiguous to two properties that have been preserved by the Tinicum Conservancy.

“This is a complex (tax) arrangement,” Zaveta said, “and I am pleased to be able to provide this donation. It will leave county funds for the true agricultural farmers (currently on the waiting list).”

The Zaveta preservation was one of 13 agenda resolutions unanimously approved by the commissioners. They also approved the refinancing of $150 million of expansion bonds for the St. Mary Hospital Authority. According to St. Mary Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Greg Wozniak, the original 2004 bond issue helped fund emergency room, cancer center and cardiovascular improvements for the health care facility, which employs more than 2,800.

The commissioners also authorized a one-year Information Services contract with Perfexion, Inc. to provide election web hosting and application support for the 2007 Primary and General elections. That contract, which allows visitors to this website to access real-time election results, represented a $24,000 decrease from last year’s contract.

Also approved was a Planning Commission resolution to support the Route 202 Parkway Alternative Highway Improvement. While endorsing PennDOT’s “compromise plan,” which will be a two-lane road that preserves a 300-foot right of way, Planning Commission Executive Director Lynn Bush said the plan takes the county “as close as we’ve gotten to a new capacity road in as long as I can remember.” Bush said bids for construction of the new road could go out by the end of this year.

During his chief operating officer’s report, David Sanko unveiled sketch plans of the county’s proposed, 1,160-space, four-story parking garage. The facility, which will rise on a recently cleared plot bordering Broad, Union and Doyle streets, is being designed in close collaboration with the Borough of Doylestown.

“We want to have the support of the community,” Sanko said, adding that county and Doylestown Borough officials are analyzing storm water management issues while seeking ways to use existing resources in the most effective manner possible.

Sanko also discussed county emergency officials and their regular communication “with the National Weather Service, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers and Delaware River Basin Commission to monitor recent Delaware River region snow/ice accumulation and potential flooding problems.”

“We anticipate a slow melt,” Sanko added. “There is no expectation that there will be flooding on the Delaware. We are partnering with the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to establish a monitoring system that extends well beyond Bucks County, up to the New York border.”

Furthermore, Sanko urged citizens to continue to plan and raise concerns about the potential for future Delaware River flooding, specifically by communicating concerns to state and federal officials.

Earlier in the agenda, proclamations were presented to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee (accepting was Rev. Dennis Mooney, pastor of Bristol’s St. Mark Parish), Project MEDS for their 20th anniversary (Brooke Moran from AAA accepted) and Operation Helping Hand (United Way Bucks County CEO Bill Schofield accepted.)

Pictured: Top--From Left to Right: Commissioner Martin, Patricia McHale, Commissioner Cawley, Brooke Moran, Bucks County AAA Project MEDS program coordinator, Jack Sheridan, Edna Theiss, Catherine Hinton and Commissioner Miller; Middle Top--From Left to Right: Joe McGinnis, Commissioner Martin, 2007 Grand Marshal Reverend Dennis Mooney, of Bristol's St. Mark's Parish, Commissioner Miller, George Galloway, Kathy Galloway and Commissioner Cawley; Middle Bottom--Rendering of Bucks County Justice System Parking Garage; Bottom--From Left to Right: Commissioner Cawley, Commissioner Martin, Bill Schofield, CEO United Way Bucks County and Commissioner Miller.