Park board adopts draft master plan

LUZERNE TWP. — The Patsy Hillman Park Board Wednesday adopted the draft master plan for the park prepared by Pennoni Associates.

Landscape architects Tom Swisher and Ron Schipani presented the draft first to the study committee set up for the master plan, then to the park board. The drawing is based on input gathered at public meetings, from the study committee and from interviews with key members of the community conducted over the past several months.

Swisher and Schipani said they will now draft the narrative that goes along with the graphic view of the future plans for the park. The narrative will include a phased capital development plan, showing cost estimates and when each item in the master plan realistically could be constructed based on available funding.

Patsy Hillman Park lake ready to rodeo

LUZERNE TWP. — One thousand catfish have been stocked at the lake in Patsy Hillman Park in preparation for Saturday’s fishing rodeo.

Luzerne Township Supervisor Greg Downer said at the park board meeting Wednesday that the free fishing event for children ages 6-12 will run from 9 a.m. until noon. The Brownsville chapter of the Izaak Walton League is sponsoring the event for the second straight year. Prizes will be given out for the largest fish caught during the event and for the largest fish caught by participants in several age brackets. All of the children will receive treat bags and a light lunch will be provided.

Fire department cited for violations

A Fayette County volunteer fire company is facing multiple charges after allegedly violating state liquor laws last month.
According to the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement in Pittsburgh, the Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Department was cited for operating gambling devices and serving alcoholic beverages to non-members.
Police said when agents infiltrated the fire department April 5 they discovered that in addition to non-members of the fire company being served alcohol, gambling involving broadcast horse races was being conducted.
The charges will be brought before an administrative law judge who can impose penalties ranging from $50 to $5,000 in fines as well as liquor license suspension or revocation.

Funding for sewage denied by Dept of Environmental Protection

BROWNSVILLE — The failure of roughly 40 percent of the on-lot sewage treatment systems in the Swan plan in Luzerne Township isn’t high enough for the state Department of Environmental Protection to consider it for funding for public sewerage.

That’s what engineer Bill Johnson told the Brownsville Municipal Authority on Tuesday.

Johnson said he met recently with officials from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) and Rural Utility Services (RUS), two potential funding sources for the project that would provide sewerage for 58 homes and the Patsy Hillman Park. Johnson said it was during that meeting that he learned that PENNVEST would not be a funding source for the installation new sewer lines to replace the failing septic systems.

See the full story by Christine Haines in tomorrow’s edition of the Herald-Standard.

Park master site plan to be presented tonight

LUZERNE TWP. — The master site plan for Patsy Hillman Park will be presented to the public tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hiller Volunteer Fire Department social hall.

The proposals include the possible construction of a golf course, additional sports fields, or an amphitheater. Members of the public are urged to attend in order to give their input on what facilities should be included in the 452-acre park in the future.