BE Twp. supers approve preliminary plans for Wawa gas station
Trending
MILL HALL -- Wawa is making its way to Clinton County.
Representatives of the company attended Bald Eagle Township Board of Supervisors' meeting Monday for conditional approval of the preliminary plans for construction of a gas station in the township.
The new business will be constructed where Creekside Restaurant -- formerly Aungst Restaurant -- was located off Eagle Valley Road, and faces the intersection of North Water Street. The primary entrance will be at the traffic signal at the intersection. A secondary in and out will be further up along Eagle Valley Road.
The plans included a fuel canopy across the front with gas tanks, air pumps and the convenience store behind it. There will be parking spots all around the store itself.
The supervisors approved the preliminary plans if conditions are met. Representatives will be attending January's supervisors meeting with the final plans for approval.
"We are excited to be here in the township. I think everyone has been a pleasure to work with, and we are hoping to move through this and make you feel comfortable with the development," Michael Wylie, a representative for Wawa said Monday.
Construction of the new gas station is expected by the middle of next summer.
The supervisors also discussed ongoing Mill Hall Fire Company decertification issues.
After the recent vote by Mill Hall Borough Council to decertify the fire company due to the inability to meet recommended training requirements, township supervisors are concerned over fire coverage.
Tony Walker, Mill Hall Fire Company chief, and Gary Mellot, of Goodwill Hose Fire Company, attended Monday's supervisors meeting to discuss future agreements. If future agreements fall short, Flemington is the next closest company.
"Our concern, if it doesn’t work for you guys, we’re responsible for fire protection for the residents and the next closest fire company is Flemington. We're stuck here. If it comes down to it, what are we going to do?" Vice-chairman Kenny McGhee, Jr. questioned.
Walker said Mill Hall Fire Company, with the help of a mediator from the fire commissioner's office, will try to come to an agreement with the borough.
"What the goal is here is that hopefully there are some new folks coming onto borough council in Mill Hall. We're hoping until after the first of the year, that we can come to some sort of agreement. I, as the chief, will try and get a mediator to come in and sit down to help us," he said.
If an agreement doesn't work out, the township would have to look to Flemington Borough for a new fire protection agreement. It would be "like flipping a switch," Mellot said.
McGhee asked Melott if Goodwill Hose had the manpower for the township if something were to happen. However, Mellot is unsure, with people leaving and officers changing at the company.
"That's a touchy situation because at our last meeting, officers changed. I will no longer be in charge of the fire department. In turn, there are a few people that are walking out, so whether they will be able to handle it, I can't say. All I can say is, we'll try," he said.
Even if Mill Hall is officially decertified, there will still be fire coverage in the township. Every fire department in the county has a mutual aid agreement. If one company cannot send help, then the next closest one will.
"We're for both of you and are pro fire departments but we are very concerned about our residents," Supervisor Stephen Tasselli expressed.
In other business, the supervisors voted to adopt their 2024 budget. It will be the eighth year in a row where the township has had no tax increases, according to Tasselli.