Jackson Twp. moves along with Fairlane Avenue Park

MYERSTOWN >> Jackson Township Supervisors approved Monday a resolution to submit its grant application to the Department of Conservation and National Resources for the second phase of Fairlane Avenue Park.

If approved, the matching grant will provide half of the estimated $433,000 the township will need to complete what township engineer Steve Sherk calls Phase 2B. This phase will construct the recreation areas of the park that include basketball, pickle ball, and bocce courts; a playground, soccer and baseball fields. Phase 2A of the project will focus on the excavation and grading of the land and construction of a parking lot and grass overflow parking; as well as general seeding and landscaping. Phase 2A is scheduled to begin this spring and will cost an estimated $364,000 making the total estimated cost of the second phase of Fairlane Avenue Park, $797,000.

In related business, the supervisors authorized Sherk to submit the plans for a building to be constructed at Rager Field at Fairlane Avenue Park for code approval. Some controversy surrounds this project as it will be built on a concrete pad that no one seems to know anything about. This concrete pad was a major point of contention with resident Ann Gruber at last month's meeting. During the public comment section Monday, Gruber again raised the question of how the concrete pad can be built without the township's knowledge. She apologized to the supervisors for interrupting Chairman Thomas Houtz last month when he tried to explain the situation and waited for his response Monday night.

Clyde Deck, township secretary, addressed residents' concerns regarding the surveying taking place along route 422. Deck reported that the survey is conducting traffic studies along the route 422 corridor, specifically at the Ramona Rd and routes 645 & 501 intersections. Deck said that the survey is required by Penn Dot to see if a round-about is suitable for the area and also to help traffic move more smoothly through the Eastern part of Lebanon County.

Supervisors authorized Sherk to begin the plan and design of a new maintenance building for the township that will replace the one that was destroyed by fire last year. The estimated cost of the build is $375,000 and will be located on Washington Avenue; the same site as the previous building.

Township solicitor Paul Bametzreider, briefly discussed a letter the supervisors received from the ACLU regarding the township's "Conduct at Meeting" ordinance. The supervisors authorized Bametzreider to review the letter and draft a response.

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Jackson Twp. moves along with Fairlane Avenue Park