August 2nd
and 16th at 7:30 p.m. Benner Township Supervisors.
July 22nd at 7:00 p.m. Benner
Township Planning Commission
July 20th at 6:30 p.m.
Benner
Township Water Authority
Meetings will be held in the meeting room
at the Municipal Building (unless noted otherwise)
Click here to
view the Spring 2008 Crossroads newsletter.
Click here
to view the Summer 2008 Crossroads newsletter.
Click here to view the
Winter 2008 Crossroads newsletter.
Click here
to view the Spring 2009 Crossroads newsletter.
Click here
to view the Winter 2009 Crossroads newsletter.
Click here
to view the Spring 2010 Crossroads newsletter.
Summer
Park & Rec - June 28 through August 6
Summer
Park and Recreation is scheduled for June 28 through August 6 for
children ages 5 through 12. Children
need to be 5 by June 1 and no older than 12 by June 1.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Seasons”.
As a special treat this year, we will have a teacher coming
to teach the kids the basics of Sign Language.
Camp entrance
fees remain the same this year—$30 per child for Benner Township
residents and $120 per child for Non-residents.
Camp registration forms will be distributed to the Benner
Elementary School in April.
If you need forms you may download them. Click here
to view the information sheet and here
to download the registration forms.
State
Prison Emergencies - Notification System
Several
years ago, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections began using an
automated telephone dialing system to notify citizens on an
emergency at any of its state prisons.
The
currently used system- called RapidNotify- is instructed by DOC
officials to call listed phone numbers within a one to two mile
radius of a state prison and play a message regarding a variety of
prison emergencies. This system can literally dial and deliver
messages to thousands of phone numbers in a matter of minutes.
NOTE:
Individuals who have unlisted phone numbers and who want to receive
the emergency notification can have their phone number added to the
system by calling SCI Rockview at (814) 355-4874.
AlertPA
- The New System . . . Your Action is Required
In
late 2009, the DOC began using a second, additional system to notify
citizens. This second system is called AlertPA. AlertPA
quickly sends emergency messages via text messages to cell phones,
pagers and e-mail addresses. Voice notification also is an
option. Individuals can register for AlertPA by going to www.pa.gov
and clicking on Alerts & Advisories. Users can choose the method of
notification and select what type of information they would to
receive. The Web site also contains a Frequently Asked
Questions page, and citizens should understand that standard texting
rates may apply. To receive text alerts from this system, you
MUST allow e-mail messaging to your phone.
Individuals
are encourage to sign up for the AlertPA system, because the DOC
plans to end its contract with RapidNotify in the future.
However, before ending the contract, DOC officials want to ensure
that everyone who wants to be notified will be notified. Therefore,
since you have to opt into this system, we need you to register,
which a majority of people can do via the Internet.
The
only concern DOC officials have is for those citizens who do not
have access to the Internet. Internet access is required to
sign up with AlertPA.
Therefore,
citizens who do not have Internet access should contact the Critical
Incident Manager at the Rockview State Prison by calling (814)
355-4874. The Critical Incident Manager will take their
information and then enter it into the AlertPA system for them.
Officials
want to ensure that citizens are utilizing the AlertPA system before
ending it contract with RapidNotify. Don't delay, please sign up
today.
Township
Wide Trash Collection Approved -
For sometime, the Board
of Supervisors have considered adopting mandatory trash and
recycling collection ordinances. This topic has been discussed
in past issues of the Crossroads. The
Township joined the Centre Region in seeking bids for trash
collection. The apparent low bidder for the upcoming contract
was Veolia. The prices quoted were:
Unlimited Refuse/Recycling: $15.10 month that will be billed
quarterly at $45.30
Low Usage (one can week)/Recycling: $12.05/month that will be
billed quarterly at $36.15
Monthly door service, if requested, is an additional $2.50/month
Below is the
ordinance that was adopted by the Board of Supervisors meeting to be held on
December 7, 2009.
Ordinance
105
Zoning Ordinance Adopted
The
Benner Township's new Zoning Ordinance was adopted on April
20, 2009. Click
here
to view the ordinance. (this is a very large file and will
take a few minutes to download)
We
encourage all residents with any questions to call the Zoning
Officer, Renee Swancer at 355-1448.
Rockview Land Divestment News
The Spring Creek
Canyon Conservation Strategy: A Master Plan and Management Plan for
the Spring Canyon has been completed by the consulting firm
of Environmental Planning and Design of Pittsburgh and is now
available for review and download. The plan can be accessed by
clicking here. For additional information on the
process, meetings, assessment data and other information, please visit the study's designated
website at www.canyonplanning.com.
The site will still be functional for a period of time. All
information on that site will be moved to this site in the future.
Spring
Creek Canyon Overlay Ordinance
The Benner Township
Board of Supervisors in conjunction with the Benner Township
Planning Commission and consultants, Environmental Planning and
Design have been working on an Overlay Ordinance for the Spring
Creek Canyon Property and some surrounding properties. To
review this draft document click here.
To review the overlay map, click here.
Real Estate Taxes
Benner Township's real estate tax collector is
Janet Houser. Janet will have
office hours each Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 in her home.
Her address is 1101 Valley View Road, Bellefonte, PA
16823. The tax office phone number is (814) 355-2441
Earned Income Taxes
Need earned income
tax forms? You can download them at www.basd.net
Go to tax office and then forms. Pay careful attention to
whether you need Benner Township or Benner Independent forms.
The school district tax office acts as the tax collector for this
tax. Their office can be reached at 355-4814 extension
3014.
2010 Local Service Taxes
Benner Township's
LST Tax (Previously known as the Occupational Privilege tax) is now
$52.00 beginning January 1, 2009. Five of the fifty-two dollars is retained by the Bellefonte Area
School District. The school district tax office acts as the tax
collector for this tax. Their office can be reached at
355-4814 extension 3014.
Looking for a unique gift?
There are still a number of the Benner Township History Books
available. This hard bound book titled:
Benner
Township 150 Years of Families, Forging, Farming, Fishing and Flying
is now available at the cost of $15.00. This book
is filled with pictures and lots of stories about the families that
settled here in Benner Township and the industries that
followed. Stop by the office during regular business hours or
call 355-1419 for a list of evening hours for your copy.
Nittany Valley Comprehensive Plan
Need to file a complaint?
BAC
Benner Township's BAC (Boards,
Authorities, and Commissions) Bank is
seeking interested people who reside in the Township and have a concern for the
well-being of the community to be available to give service by volunteering for
positions that become open on the various Boards, Authorities, and
Commissions/Committees that are appointed by the Supervisors. The Township needs
dedicated people who are willing to serve in many different capacities. If you
have any particular talents, concerns or interests that you feel would be
appropriate, please contact the Township Office at 355-1419 for more
information.
We are currently looking for people to serve on the:
Fall Festival Committee
Haunted Halloween Trail Committee
If you are interested, please call the township office at
355-1419.
