Corrigan leads conservation gorup
By Charles Reynolds
MILFORD — Sally Corrigan has been promoted to executive director of the Pike County Conservation District, filling the position formerly occupied by Susan Beecher.
Michael Mrozinksi, who was assistant director of the Pike County Community Planning office, has been promoted to director. The positions will be effective Dec. 10.
There will be a few weeks' overlap with Beecher, who is set to retire on Dec. 31, in order to bring Corrigan up to speed on all the Conservation District's ongoing work and future plans.
Beecher announced her retirement to the board in August, after working for the county for 23 years. Her initial title of district manager was changed a few years ago to executive director. She has been a strong advocate for protection of the county's natural waterways.
In a recent interview, Beecher talked about the controversial Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) Northeast Upgrade Project (NEUP). The district's biggest concern, she said, "is to not repeat the mistakes that were made during the 300 project.” She went on to say that the biggest issues the district is still working on with TGP is “how to minimize the overall footprint of the project" and to "try to narrow the right of way widths in sensitive areas and stream corridors and steep slopes. Our focus is trying to protect water resources.”
Shirley Masuo, president of Twin and Walker Creeks Watershed Conservancy, recently praised Beecher and her staff for the excellent work they have done on behalf of Pike County.
“We appreciate her hard work and constant efforts to preserve the pristine environment of Pike County,” Masuo said. And went on to express that without her diligence “many more problems would have arisen.”
Superintendent looks for help with new school
John Bell, the new superintendent of Delaware Valley School District, made his introductions to the Pike County Commissioners. He has been making the rounds of local municipalities to say hello.
He attempted to get the commissioners to pressure Milford Township about getting a new school built. The township is requiring a lease agreement with a neighboring property so the school can have an alternate emergency exit, which is holding up the now $30 million project.
“We're here to be a good neighbor,” Bell said, referring to use of the new parking area for the county's needs.
He then went on to describe the projects the district is planning: the high school gym, the pool, and all the room needed to accommodate the current students and activities.
“But that project won't start until we get permission from Milford Township to build the new school," he said. Once the township provides a conditional use permit to build the school, he said, "We can then can begin the new projects for the high school gym and the pool. They're all interconnected.”
Bell touted the district's achievements. Over the last year, he said, “over 90 percent of our kids, seniors, went to college last year, and we had 126 national AP scholars, which is an all-time record.”
A good year for tourism
Carl Wilgus, Executive Director of the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, was on hand to present the Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau Annual Report. “We had a very good year last fiscal year,” Wilgus said. “We finally got back to the what was the 2007-2008 fiscal year which was the benchmark in terms of hotel room revenues for the whole Pocono Mountain region.”
Wilgus said that it wasn't a good year for the ski resorts or the snow removal businesses, but it was a great year for the hotel industry. “Last winter they had fewer cancellations than they ever had,” he explained. The director also explained how they were able to leverage $451,000 into $950,000 “worth of media value.”
The second and third quarter last year generated $101,000 of hotel tax revenues, resulting in nearly 25,000 additional room nights. To explain why this is important, Wilgus said that research has found that for every additional 165 room nights generated in a year, one job is created. According to that fromula, about 152 hospitality jobs were created over last year.
In other business
Boiler repair — One of the boilers at the administration building has failed and the other one is expected to go soon. They are both the same age. A bid was advertised for repairs and only one company replied. It is under consideration for review by county officials until Nov. 28.
2013 holiday schedule — The approved dates are: Jan. 1 – New Year's Day, Jan. 21 – Martin Luther King Day, Feb. 18 – President's Day, March 29 – Good Friday, May 27 – Memorial Day, July 4 – Independence Day, Sept. 2 – Labor Day, Oct. 14 – Columbus Day, Nov. 11 – Veteran's Day, Nov. 28 and 29 – Thanksgiving, Dec. 24 and 25 – Christmas. All government offices are closed on these days.