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Plains Township woman accused of lying about rape by state trooper

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No tax hike planned in Butler Township

<p>NUANGOLA &#8212; Borough council had some words of warning this week about the lack of volunteerism that seems to be plaguing the area.</p><p>&#8220;If we don&#8217;t find a fix for the problem, emergency services, especially fire protection, could get expensive,&#8221; council chairman Joseph Tucker said.</p><p>Tucker&#8217;s comments came while officials announced a meeting of officials from the Mountain Top area set for Dec. 7 at Dorrance. The forum is being held to discuss a downturn in volunteerism that has become, as Tucker put it: &#8220;A widespread problem.&#8221;</p><p>Councilman Mark Gandzyk, also a volunteer fireman, stated that a recent fundraising appeal to finance the Nuangola fire department has to this point achieved only a 50 percent return. Out of an estimated 400 households, only half have remitted a contribution, the minimum of which is $50 for the year, Gandzyk pointed out.</p><p>Gandzyk opined that if the volunteer department fails, the citizens would face the alternative of establishing a professional service that Gandzyk estimated could cost $500 per person per year.</p><p><strong>No tax hike</strong></p><p>Council also discussed the 2018 proposed budget. Councilman Michael Johnson submitted a spending plan that calls for sustaining taxes at 2017 rates, although the overall budget, $202,050, is slightly higher than in 2017 ($199,750).</p><p>Johnson said revenue will be derived from three major sources: a 1 percent earned income tax, a real estate levy of .444 mills and $32,000 in state liquid fuel reimbursement. (A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed value.)</p><p>The budget has been posted at the borough building for public inspection; adoption has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 18.</p><p>In other business this week, council:</p><p>&#8226; Voted to negotiate a $25,000 loan with First Keystone Community Bank to help finance the purchase of a dump truck.</p><p>Tucker said a $16,070 insurance payment for the old truck as well as liquid fuels money and $13,000 in other funds will also go toward the purchase.</p><p>&#8226; Voted to utilize the services of Modern Gas for propane purchases.</p><p>&#8226; Approved a proposal by Tucker to file an application for a gambling-funds grant in 2018.</p><p>&#8226; Heard a report from Johnson that the sewer authority will sustain its monthly service rate at $70 per household.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Nuangola officials upset over lack of volunteers