2010 News

September 16, 2010

5th Annual Bucks County Pandemic Flu Drill Slated for Saturday, November 13
Announcement Highlights Commissioners’ Bi-Monthly Business Meeting at Churchville Nature Center

A two-hour business visit to the Churchville Nature Center which included 27 contract resolutions involving 14 departments also featured the Board of Bucks County Commissioners’ announcement of the county’s 5th Annual Pandemic Flu Drill. According the Health Director Dr. David Damsker, the 2010 free flu shot event will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, November 13, in the parking lot of the Sesame Place amusement park in Middletown Township. The drive-thru site will feature multiple points of dispensing (PODs) in tents that were recently purchased by the county Health Department.

Dr. Damsker also noted that this year’s event – which doubles as an emergency preparedness exercise – will be available to all Bucks County residents ages five and older. During the previous four Pandemic Flu Drills, residents ages nine and older were eligible to receive a flu shot. The county is planning the event in close collaboration with Middletown Township emergency officials and members of the county Major Incident Response Team (or MIRT).

The commissioners’ meeting preceded the groundbreaking of Phase 1 of the Churchville Nature Center’s two-phase green building expansion. The first phase will include an education wing composed of 3,107 square feet dedicated to school programs, a green living and sustainable design exhibit hall and a watershed research lab. “We have been talking about this for a long time, and now it’s coming to fruition,” Churchville Nature Center Director Chris Stieber said during his welcoming remarks. “I would like to personally thank the commissioners.” During the meeting, Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq. and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW approved a $1 million Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) reimbursement of previously granted funds for the construction of the green building expansion.

The meeting’s “green” theme also applied to three separate land items on the agenda. Equally topically, the board voted unanimously to preserve the 115.94-acre Heuscher Farm in Northampton Township (where Churchville Nature Center is located). The farmland, a key link to the county’s agricultural heritage, previously was approved for the development of a 61-home residential neighborhood. Economic conditions allowed the Northampton Township Board  of Supervisors to revisit the property’s status with county Agricultural Preservation DirectorRich Harvey. “This is a very nice farm,” Mr. Harvey stated, noting the Heuscher Farm’s proximity to the Solly Brothers and Tanner Brothers properties, both local landmarks. The commissioners also approved a conservation easement for the 60-acre Hottle Farm on Pleasant View Rd. in Springfield Township. Mrs. Nancy Hottle thanked the board for fulfilling a family dream for the working farm, which dates back to the 18th century. The two preserved farms lifted the county’s Agricultural Preservation program total since 1990 to 142 farms encompassing 12,104 acres.

For the Open Space program, the commissioners unanimously approved a $170,000 Natural Areas Grant to purchase a 34-acre easement on Bunker Hill Rd. in Tinicum Township. The purchase was recommended by the county Open Space Board, according to county Open Space Coordinator Kris Kern.

In a long-anticipated effort to support the Lower Bucks County Soap Box Derby, the commissioners approved the lease of 13.97 acres on the Thiokol tract in Bristol Township to conduct youth races. “Soap Box Derby is one of the truly great family activities,” stated Mark Craig, director of the Bucks County organization. Former director Ray Mongillo also thanked Commissioner Cawley for his efforts on behalf of the 54-year-old group.

The board approved a $349,908 grant award for Adult Probation that will establish an Adult Drug Court to assist non-violent offenders with rehabilitation from the use of drugs and alcohol. The grant was lauded as an example of commissioners and courts cooperation. County Grants Coordinator Fonta Reilly also received praise for her role in securing the funding.

For General Services, the board approved a $48,000 contract increase with Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) to address drawings related to the parking area outside the new Judicial Center and a $309,216 contract with Professional Construction Contractors of Bethlehem, PA to rehabilitate County Bridge #244 on Quarry Rd. in Hilltown Township. According to Special Projects Director Joe Bush, the bridge project should take between four and five months from start to completion, weather permitting. Commissioner Marseglia voted against the HOK contract increase, as well as against $8,185 of Community Development Block Grant funding for the installation of a concrete floor and walkway to the Clark Nature Center Barn in Newtown Township.

Chairman Martin voted “nay” on 11 separate grant applications for use of pass through gaming funds for capital projects and public improvements involving lower county municipalities and the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority. Commissioner Marseglia also voted no on proposals for Bristol Borough, Langhorne Borough, Falls Township and the Newtown Ambulance Squad – meaning none of those four applications was forwarded to the RDA.

The board also issued four proclamations – Constitution Week (Sept. 17-23), FACT Aids Walk, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day (Sept. 25) and Recovery Month. The next meeting of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners will take place on Wednesday, October 6, at the Bucks County Community College Campus, One Hillendale Dr., Perkasie, 19844. For an audio account of the Sept. 15 meeting, please visit www.BucksCounty.org and click on the commissioners’ link.