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Forks Emergency Medical Squad is back in the news. At the August 17th Forks Supervisors
meeting, the Board voted unanimously to put Forks EMS on "financial watch." The squad will be
required to submit current financial statements and a business plan to show how it intends to
achieve financial stability. Forks EMS is already two quarters behind in tax and utility payments to
the Township. They have been sent 35 delinquency notices (on its loan) from the Office of the
State Fire Commissioner. They still owe Suburban EMS $14,362 for services previously provided.
What do you think? Can Forks EMS make it?
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A Solar power array is planned by Crayola on 16 acres of a 128 acre parcel the company owns -
just north of their Forks plant and just west of Kesslersville Road. The solar project will generate
three megawatts of electricity, enough to power 20% of their facility. At the August 14th Planning
Commission meeting, the two neighboring property owners expressed support for the plan. What
do you think? Is it solar time in Forks?
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At the August 7th Board of Supervisors meeting there was a long discussion about how to best
explain the current emergency ambulance situation to Forks residents - website, letter, press
release, etc. In your opinion, what is the best way to inform the public?
At the July 17th Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board designated Suburban Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) as the Township's provider of ALS (Advanced Life Support) services. Forks EMS was retained as the
provider of BLS (Basic Life Support) services. Forks EMS is not certified by the State to provide ALS service and,
by law, the Township must have a designated ALS provider. Before the naming of Suburban as the ALS provider,
Suburban was the ALS provider but was under a billing arrangement with Forks EMS where Forks EMS did the
billing for both squads.. Now Suburban will bill for Suburban's services and Forks EMS will bill for Forks EMS
services - and only one ambulance, instead of two, will be dispatched by the 911 center.
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The KMRD/Kings Mill zoning challenge hearing resumes Monday, August 4th with Round 23. The
hearing has been going on for two years this month. In case you've forgotten, the KMRD challenge
alleges that the Farmland Protection (FP) zoning regulations are "arbitrary, unreasonable and
unconstitutional" and that the Township fails to allow enough space for mobile home parks and
multi-family dwellings. What do you think?
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The Morning Call has announced that it is cutting its newsroom staff by 25% through the
elimination of 35-40 jobs. It is unknown at this time who will be cut. Satellite offices, including
Easton's, will be consolidated and some even closed. How do you feel about this?
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Forks Supervisors voted 4:0 on Thursday, 7/17/08, to designate Suburban Emergency Medical
Services (SEMS) as the Township's advanced life support (ALS) provider. Forks EMS (FEMS) will
continue to be dispatched on all calls deemed by the 911 center as needing only BLS (basic life
support) services. The Supervisors' action, according to some, will reduce FEMS revenue stream
by as much as 50%. SEMS will now handle its own billing. How do feel about the new
arrangement?
The two squads had a payment agreement in place and according to SEMS, it was violated and therefore no
longer in effect. Insurance regulations permit only one ambulance service to bill for all ambulance services
needed on a call. FEMS was the billing ambulance company and neglected to pay SEMS for all of its services.
FEMS, according to Supervisors, is also behind in its EIT (Earned Income Tax) payments, its electric bills, and its
PEMA loan payments. In total, FEMS' debt is nearly $500,000.
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Forks Supervisors have instructed the Township Manager to conduct a feasibility study for a Forks
swimming pool. The study will take time and the services of outside professionals to gather and
compile data. The study’s progress will be monitored by the Parks & Recreation Standing
Committee. What do you think?
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Forks Emergency Medical Services squad and Palmer's Suburban EMS have been providing BLS
(basic life support) and ALS (advanced life support) ambulance service* to Forks residents since
the Forks squad was revived in April 2007. In several appearances before the Forks Supervisors,
Forks EMS has asked for the Township's 2007 budgeted donation - $20,000. The Supervisors are
withholding their donation until they feel confident that the squad’s financial viability is assured .
What do you think?
*Forks EMS is the designated BLS provider, but is not licensed to provide ALS service, thus the dual contracts.
Medicare regulations allow only one ambulance service to submit invoices. Forks EMS has been submitting the
bills and receiving payments for both its services and for services provided (in Forks) by Suburban. Suburban is
owed money by Forks EMS.
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As the Fourth of July arrives, local cities and towns offer public fireworks displays. These are
wonderful, safe and fun to watch. However, during this holiday period many neighbors skirt the law
by setting off their own backyard fireworks. Some of these informal displays can be elaborate
while others go little beyond a few noise-makers. Do you think that large, noisy backyard fireworks
displays should be allowed with a permit?
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Northampton County now owns the oldest building in Easton, the Backmann Publick House. It
was built in 1753 and was Easton's first court. The Easton Heritage Alliance, which restored and
owned the building, defaulted on its loan. Finally, the County intervened and took over the building
from them. How do you feel about this latest County real estate transaction?
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Forks Supervisors voted June 5th to donate $10,000 (funds from developers for recreation, not
taxpayer dollars) to the parent-run effort to raise money for new playground equipment at Forks
Elementary School. The playground is open to the public during non-school hours. The fields
there are used by the Forks Athletic Association. The Easton Area School District will not pay for
"replacement playgrounds," but has donated $10,000. The group seeks $40,000 for phase I and
$16,000 for phase II. Before Forks' donation, they had raised $34,800. Do you approve of this
donation?
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The Forks Supervisors are considering creation of some "neighborhood" parks. The land is
owned by the Township, but there’s no playground equipment in place. Funds to purchase and
install equipment comes from developer recreation impact fees. This money sits in a dedicated
recreation account -- no taxpayer dollars are needed. How do you feel about the possibility of
neighborhood parks?
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The Easton Area School Board passed a 2008-09 budget that smacks property owners with a
10.37% tax increase – more than twice the inflation rate. These officials are elected, not appointed.
They don’t get as much attention as candidates for Supervisor or higher public offices. Yet, once
elected, they can impact our tax burden more than other elected officials. How do you feel about
that?
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On Saturday May 24th, the Express Times awarded an editorial “TURKEY” to the residents of the
Easton Area School District. Seems only 50 interested people came to the first of three meet-the-
Superintendent-candidates sessions. What do you think makes the public (as the Express Times
called them) "apathetic?"
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The new draft Comprehensive Plan mentions the Forks Town Center District as one that should
be defined, explored and developed. The Plan goes so far as to suggest that a detailed Town
Center Improvement Plan be prepared. What would you like to see there?
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The Kings Mill legal challenge to the Township’s zoning ordinances will be back in front of the
Forks Zoning Hearing Board this Wednesday, May 14th. Urban Research & Development Corp's
Charlie Schmehl continues his testimony on behalf of the Township. All this began in 2004 when
one of the KMRD developers asked (then) Supervisor John Ackerman what the Township would
like to have. Ackerman told him "a public works garage." Since then, we have seen three different
proposals and the land owned (or under the control of KMRD) has increased by 100 acres to 545.
There will be at least one more session where KMRD will cross-examine Mr. Schmehl.
Summations by both sides will follow and then the Board will vote. If you were on the Zoning
Hearing Board, how would you vote?
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The Stockertown/Tatamy bridge over Bushkill Creek has been closed since 2000 due to sinkhole
damage. The bridge was finally dismantled in 2007. PennDOT is reviewing its bridge program
and is considering whether: (1) to rebuild the bridge for vehicles; (2) or just for pedestrians; (3) or
both; (4) or perhaps not rebuilding at all. Letters to the editor of the Express Times argue both for
and against a vehicle bridge. Some say it would alleviate traffic problems and others say it would
create them. What do you think?
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Earth Day was last week. Energy prices are soaring. Consumer energy alternatives like hybrid
cars, solar panels, and windmills are expensive. How are you coping with rising energy prices?
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The Kings Mill/KMRD high-density development zoning challenge resumes before the Zoning
Hearing Board this week. At the last hearing session (March 31), Charlie Schmehl testified in
behalf of the Township that the proposed development "... could affect the Delaware River, which
is replenished in part by groundwater filtered through the mostly undeveloped area." (JD Malone,
Express Times 4/1/08). For many in the audience, this was a new way of looking at the
development. How do you feel?
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The Forks Planning Commission has spent over a year working on the Comprehensive Plan re-
do. Some think it is done, others think it lacks a unifying philosophy. What do you think? Should the
Planning Commission move it forward to the Board of Supervisors or should they take more time
to fine tune it?
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The new Forks Comprehensive Plan (draft) suggests a way to fund open space purchases with a
bond issue. From the Comp Plan draft: "State law allows voters to approve an increase in their
earned income tax ( up to 0.25 percent) or an increase in their real estate tax millage (up to 2 mils)
or an increase in the real estate transfer tax (up to 0.25 percent)." Our Supervisors asked their
Finance & Administration standing committee to evaluate the different ways to finance open space
preservation and report back to them. The intent is to place a referendum on the November ballot.
What do you think?
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The long continuing Kings Mill substantive challenge to Forks' 2006 Zoning Ordinance resumes
Monday, March 31 at 7:30 PM with round 20. (This is not the same as the short two-session
procedural challenge where KMRD hoped to get all Zoning Ordinances back to 1983 tossed out
on technicalities - and lost.) The substantive challenge began formally nearly two years ago.
Briefly, Kings Mill hopes to prove the 2006 Zoning Ordinance invalid because it doesn't allow the
density per acre that they want. It's nearly over - on the township level. The last witness for Forks
will testify and then, presumably at the April 21 hearing, the summaries will be given. After that
there will be a vote by the Zoning Hearing Board. How do you think the absence of Forks residents
at the hearing sessions will be interpreted by the Zoning Hearing Board?
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Round Two of the Kings Mill/KMRD "procedural challenge" hearing should conclude Monday night
(March 24th). If KMRD loses, they say they will appeal the decision to the Northampton County
Court of Common Pleas. If the Zoning Hearing Board rules against the Township, what do you
think should happen?
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Folks who are not registered, but want to vote in The Pennsylvania Presidential Primary, or those
who want to change party affiliation, have only until Monday, March 24th to do so. Meanwhile, the
Easton Area School District has yet to agree to host polling places in the schools. Despite Judge
Freedberg’s ruling last year that they must comply, the school district still hasn’t agreed. How do
you feel about voting in the schools?
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The KMRD hearings that challenge Forks’ zoning ordinance are already proving to be a lawyers’
fest. If you read the summary of the February 18th procedural challenge hearing (www. forksaction.
com) you learned that a third lawyer involved, Ms. Kellie McGowan, is also a principal in the KMRD
partnership. The principals’ list already includes attorneys Dennis Benner and Joseph Piperato
(besides developers, J.T. Maloney/Signature Homes and Nic Zawarski & Sons.) Time may reveal
even more developers/lawyers. What do you think about Forks fighting so many lawyers?
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On March 8th, Forks’ Zoning Hearing Board will hear a variance request to allow a combination car
wash and quick lube in the Town Center (TC) District. It is currently not an allowed use. The owner
of the strip mall wants to build this combo in the parking lot next to the beer store. What do you
think? Would you welcome a car wash along Town Center Boulevard or is it not the right place?
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Williams Township is embroiled in the Chrin request to expand their landfill. Ten Williams
residents have filed suit against the Supervisors claiming that they negotiated with Chrin behind
closed doors, a Sunshine Act violation. Do you agree?
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Kings Mill partners’ (KMRD) "procedural challenge" begins February 18th before the Forks Zoning
Hearing Board. The challenge implies that there were errors of procedure (i.e., advertising, public
hearings, etc.) in the adoption of current and previous zoning ordinances. Therefore, the Kings Mill
project should be regulated by the 1983 zoning. This would allow high density development in the
Farmland Protection District. To prove errors of procedure, KMRD's counsel has requested that
the Township produce all records pertaining to all zoning ordinance adoptions back to 1983. What
do you think about this latest suit?
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There's no doubt that the world of school students has changed from "when we were kids." Now
there are school police and locked doors. Saturday's Express Times carried a short story about
the (EASD) Easton Area School District's own six man police force considering going for state
accreditation. This school force is authorized to carry weapons and make arrests. Do you think that
school police should carry weapons in our schools?
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The Kings Mill/KMRD hearing is set to resume on February 11. Forks is not alone in its legal
wranglings with developers. The Lehigh Valley has been overrun with developer-spawned
lawsuits over zoning regulations that prevent what they want to build - houses in areas not zoned
for residential development. One such suit was dropped last week. The Ashley/Markward
(Marshfield Partners) zoning challenge against Upper Mount Bethel Township (UMBT) has been
withdrawn. It has been replaced by a new (County Councilman Ron Angle endorsed) compromise
plan for 596 houses and an industrial park (instead of the 1257 from the original Marshfield
proposal). In what way does that UMBT suit differ from Forks' travails?
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Northampton County officials have ordered 300 new electronic voting machines. These
refurbished Sequoia (Brand) Voting Systems units should arrive in time for the April primary. The
machines feature a full ballot view, a touch screen and privacy curtain. They do not include a paper
trail. Meanwhile, an injunction has been filed in Court to stop certification of six models of voting
machines, including the ones the County just ordered. The reason for the injunction? The
machines lack a "permanent physical trail" as mandated by the State. Do you trust these new
electronic voting machines?
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In view of all that's transpired lately in our neighboring municipalities, do you think that Forks
Supervisors should be allowed to also have Township jobs?
A voter referendum to change Lower Macungie from a second class township to a first class one was initiated
because of the $2.5 million embezzlement by a working Supervisor. (In a first class township, Supervisors are not
allowed to hold other township jobs.) Moore Township's residents are not happy with their three working
Supervisors. Easton's new mayor's wife was appointed to City Council. Bath's mayor was arrested for stealing from
her church. Her replacement mayor was cited for a road rage incident. Etc.
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At the recent meeting of the Forks Elected Auditors the three auditors (elected residents) set the
rate of pay for Supervisors who hold other Township jobs. They voted to hold wages at current
rates – no raise. One auditor pushed for more than the 4% that the rest of the Township
employees were given. Audience members loudly disagreed. The resulting two to one vote froze
current rates. Do you agree with this decision?
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You've read in the local press about the plight of Williams Township residents. They are angered
that the Supervisors they elected are not saying "no" to Chrin's landfill expansion proposals there.
Williams’ citizens are frustrated that those Supervisors who sought their votes promised to fight
the landfill expansion may now be willing to compromise with Chrin. Do you think that something
similar could happen here in Forks?
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This week's Express Times legal notices include five properties up for sheriff's sale in Forks
Township. What do you think about that?
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The local newspapers have been covering Forks EMS' financial struggles. Most recently, on
December 20th, the Board of Supervisors decided to withhold payment of a $20,000 donation to
the squad despite its being a 2007 budget item. The Board reasoned that the last time a check
was sent, the squad's doors closed within days of its receipt. The Board will wait until 2008 to
make a decision on whether to make the donation. Some Supervisors doubt that Forks Township
is big enough to support its own EMS squad. Do you agree?
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Northampton and Lehigh Counties are working on creating a regional Lehigh Valley Health
Department. Is this something you think will be beneficial to you in Forks Township?
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The Easton Area School District (EASD) plans to move students from schools scheduled for
remodeling (Paxinosa & March) to the Easton Middle School until the renovations are completed.
EMS is less than a block from the recent triple murder site. Previously, some parents objected to
the move because of the disruption to their children's schooling. However, since the murders,
parents are alarmed about the safety of their children. If you were (or are) those parents whose
kids are being uprooted from Paxinosa and March schools, what options are you exploring?
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At last week’s on-going zoning challenge hearing, an expert witness for Forks testified that the
Kings Mill and Weis Market projects will add 18,000 vehicle trips per day to Township roads. Right
now, 14,000 vehicles travel Sullivan Trail daily. If all the new traffic uses Sullivan Trail, the daily
vehicle count would jump to 32,000. However, not all of this new traffic will use Sullivan Trail.
Estimates are that perhaps 13,000 to 15,000 trips will be on other township roads. Also not clear
is if the anticipated additional 4,000 trips per day in/out of the new Fort James III industrial park
were included in these figures. In any event, given that Forks traffic will congeal to a crawl, do you
have a secret way in and out of the Township to avoid the congestion?
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The holidays are just around the corner. The Kiwanis Club is sponsoring the Forks Christmas tree
lighting. Stuffed toys are being accepted by the Forks Police Department. What could be better?
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Kings Mill is back in residents’ thoughts as the zoning lawsuit hearings resume on November
26th with another scheduled for December 17th. The Township is still presenting its witnesses.
Yet the real estate market remains stagnant Do you think that the developers will ever give up and
go away?
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Forks’ two recently elected Supervisors take office on January 2, 2008. Both are finishing terms on
other Forks boards -- Erik Chuss on the Planning Commission and Bob Egolf on the Zoning
Hearing Board. A review of all the town’s appointed board members reveals that there are two
seats to be filled on the Planning Commission, two on the Zoning Hearing Board and one on the
Recreation Board. Would you consider serving on one of these boards?
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Voting is the topic of talk this week in Forks! The League of Women Voters Guide to Election 2007
was finally published by the Morning Call on 11/1/07. It's also available online, too. The sad fact is
that not many registered voters actually go to the polls. Less than 1300 registered Forks voters
cast ballots in the May 2007 Primary. These voters determined our current ballot choices. If you are
reading this, it's likely that you are a voter. Now, the question is: Why do you think people don’t
vote?
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The election is a week away. Three of the four Supervisor candidates have blogs. They post their
thoughts and ideas about Forks Township - for you to read. Are you reading these blogs to learn
more about the candidates before you vote on November 6th?
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With the election only two weeks away and the Kings Mill suit still alive, what other issue positions
do you want to hear about from the four candidates for Forks Supervisor?
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The Kings Mill hearing resumes Monday night with another witness for the Township. The election
is 3-plus weeks away. The four candidates for Supervisor oppose high density development in the
Farmland Protection district. Do you feel you have enough information about/from each candidate
to make your two choices on election day?
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At their October 4th meeting, Forks Supervisors rejected by a single vote a resolution to join Kings
Mill partners’ in an indefinite suspension of current litigation to work out some sort of
"compromise settlement." Many residents attended the proceedings and all who addressed the
Board expressed strong opposition to any halt in the current legal process. It proved to be a good
night for Forks’ citizens who disagree with the Kings Mill plan. How do you feel?
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The final weeks of the 2007 Forks Supervisors’ race are here! The two winners in the November
election will face daunting challenges when they take the oath of office in January 2008 – among
them several in-progress lawsuits! What are the most important issues to you in the meantime?
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Northampton County is suing the Easton Area School District because the EASD wants to deny
voters use of schools as polling places. The County wants to continue using the public facilities
and the schools claim it's a security concern. What do you think?
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Kings Mill partners recently filed another challenge against Forks Township’s zoning. Now they
allege that all zoning enacted since 1983 is invalid. The new challenge forces the township to
prove that it has followed the letter of the law in all zoning processes back to 1983. Apparently,
Kings Mill prefers 1983’s zoning and has submitted a new plan for their 545 acres to conform to
housing densities allowed back then. In those days, quarter-acre lots were permitted. The upshot
is that Kings Mill partners continue to pressure the Township to spend money in legal defense
costs. Why do you suppose that is?
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The T-Mobile cell-tower-in-the-park proposal was turned down by the Board of Supervisors last
week. Supervisors Howell, Nicholas, and Hoff voted against it. Supervisors Ackerman and Miller
voted for it. The audience applauded the decision. What reasons do you think prompted Miller and
Ackerman to want a cell tower in the park?
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The terms of two members of Forks’ Board of Supervisors expire at yearend 2007. Until then,
many issues will come before the Board. For instance, there are legal challenges – the Weis
Market appeal, the Kings Mill multiple appeals and challenges. How each issue will be decided is
important to Forks' residents. Each issue will result in major changes to our quality of life in the
form of traffic, housing density and taxpayer costs. So, this week's question is: When is a lame
duck Supervisor dangerous?
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Riverview Country Club developer Gary Strausser earned a disdainful Express Times TURKEY
award (8/25/07). He was slammed for cutting down the Township-owned giant maple trees on Old
River Road as well as for trying to muscle Forks into taking over maintenance of Riverview's as yet
unfinished roads. Now Forks’ Board of Supervisors is considering suing him. If you had cut the
Township's trees, what do you think the Township would mete out as punishment?
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The developer of Forks’ Riverview Golf & Country Club, Strausser Enterprises, recently cut down
eight healthy, stately old maple trees (five that belonged to the township and three on Strausser
property). Apparently, the trees were blocking the view of the river from the 12th hole of the golf
course. The tree cutting incident made front-page, headline news in the local press last Thursday.
The tree downing was also hotly discussed at last Thursday’s Supervisors meeting. Most sadly,
the trees will be missed by everyone who drives by the Frost Hollow/N. Delaware Drive (Rte. 611)
intersection and those who live in the neighborhood. One of the Strausser Enterprises’ crew
members who was sent there to do the deed told the neighbors that the township had ordered the
cutting. Chutzpah? Who knows? The fact remains that years ago the Township informed
Strausser's representative at a public meeting that the trees belonged to the Township.
Furthermore, the representative was told the trees were NOT to be taken down. The Supervisors
are now deciding the appropriate punishment. What do you think?
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Round 14 of the Kings Mill legal challenge convenes Monday, August 13 at 7:30 PM in the Forks
Municipal Building. Potentially important testimony from the City of Easton and Lower Mount Bethel
Township will be presented. Representatives from these neighboring municipalities will describe
the impact of such a huge project as Kings Mill will have on them as well. Do you think that we
should care what our neighbors think?
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The vote in last week’s FAC survey showed that just 20% of you feel that the Board of Supervisors
will not compromise with Kings Mill, the developers who plan to plant high-density housing in
Forks' Farmland Preservation District. The other 80% of you aren't so sure. Now that we know what
you BELIEVE will happen, we are asking what you HOPE will happen. How do you WANT to see
Forks’ future resolved?
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The Kings Mill issue goes on and on. You know the one - 3000 plus homes on 500 plus acres in
the Farmland Preservation district. How long after the Zoning Hearing Board's ruling and the court
ruling on the inevitable appeal before the Supervisors give in to the developers' whims?
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You know that Forks is embroiled in a protracted fight to resist high density development in the
Farmland Preservation district. You know that the hearings, boring as they’ve been, are important
to the court rulings to come. You also know that we are not alone; other communities are in similar
fights. The lack of attendance at the hearings by Forks’ residents may appear to the powers-that-
be that no one gives a damn. Such sparse attendance could indirectly affect the outcome, not of
the hearing, but of the Township's possible decision to stop "bleeding money" in its defense. How
do you think residents can show interest in the outcome?
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Forks' attorneys for the Kings Mill zoning challenge have reportedly reached out to nearby
municipalities for input on how a project as big as Kings Mill would impact them as well. If Easton,
Tatamy, and Stockertown agree to respond what do you think they will say?
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"Affordable Housing" is a term you will find all over the newspapers lately. In the Kings Mill
partners' zoning challenge, the claim is that Forks "needs" high density, affordable housing.
Further, they claim to be the development team to build it here. Their intent is to build it in the
Farmland Preservation (FP) District, the area specifically zoned low density. Omega Homes once
planned “affordable housing” apartments for their Penn's Ridge project, but abandoned them in
favor of more profitable condos and townhouses. Meanwhile, Forks officials maintain that Forks is
"built out" - all the land that is not in the FP is spoken for. Do you think that Forks should relinquish
its farmland to absorb all the gentlefolk needing "affordable housing" just because the developers
want to build it here?
Not so incidentally, according to Pennsylvania's Municipal Planning Code (MPC), prime agricultural lands "shall"
be protected. The soils in the FP are indeed prime - some of the best in the country! Yet, developers continue to
cite Forks FP land as undeveloped - implying that it serves no useful purpose in its current state, that of growing
food.
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The Planning Commission seeks resident involvement in the re-do of the Forks Comprehensive
Plan. Resident committees are being formed at the PC meeting on June 26th. Do you have good
ideas for the future of Forks? Will you volunteer your thoughts and guidance?
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The Supervisors took a tour of the proposed cell tower site in the Forks Community Park the other
night. From the enthusiasm of those-in-the-know who described the 150 ft. tower and the 150 ft.
"fall zone" needed all around it, it sounds like a done deal. However, it has not yet been up for a
vote by the Board of Supervisors. If you are for or against the cell tower site, will you write/email/call
members of the Board to let them know how you feel? If you don't let them know, they assume that
you are indifferent.
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Recently some parents in the Pleasant Valley School District pulled their children out of two Polk
Township schools. The reason? - A Cingular cell tower (with a 30 year lease) near the schools!
PVSD wants the money. The parents fear the exposure. If a cell tower is permitted to be
constructed in Forks' community park, will you keep your children away from the site?
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The Primary Election vote is not yet official, but so far it's looking good for the four candidates
highlighted on the FAC website. They are all new to "formal politics," but not new to public service.
Two of these outstanding Forks residents will be representing you on the Board of Supervisors
next year. Which among Forks’ many pressing issues do you want to see tackled first?
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T-Mobile, the wireless telephone company, has approached Forks’ officials for permission to
"rent" a site in the Community Park for a 150-foot-tall cell tower. The site chosen by T-Mobile is
between the new garage in the park and the old Laneco property -- that is, between the Municipal
Building and the Community Center. The "rental" rate to the town will be somewhere between
$10,000 - $18,000 per year for five years. What is your reaction to this proposal?
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Voting on Tuesday is NOT restricted to registered party voters. Registered Independents may vote
on ballot referenda. This Tuesday voters are presented with the opportunity to make their decision
regarding “Act I” – a referendum to raise Earned Income Tax rates instead of raising school taxes
over the next few years. Do you have any idea what this Act will do? Do you think you'll pay more or
less total school taxes if it passes?
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The May 15th Primary Election is just around the corner. Democrats have two votes and two
candidates – an easy choice. Republicans have a field of four from which to pick their two
favorites! We will only ask about the Republicans here. Of the four Republican candidates, which
pair do you prefer to see run in the General Election campaign? (The pair combinations are listed
alphabetically.)
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Primary Election Day arrives in a couple of weeks -- May 15th. Those who vote that day select the
November General Election candidates. In 2006, 19% of the State's registered voters cast ballots
in the Primary. Why do you vote in the Primaries?
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The Kings Mill zoning appeal is once again on deck for Monday night. There's a Primary Election
scheduled for May 15th. Do you know where each of the six candidates stand regarding this
ongoing lawsuit?
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Imagine for a moment that a certain Forks’ Supervisor wants to compromise with the Kings Mill
developers to settle the lawsuit alleging that the town’s zoning is too restrictive. (Kings Mill
proposes over 3,000 dwelling units on 500+ acres in the Farmland Preservation (FP) District).
Imagine, too, that this same Supervisor reasons that a compromise will give the Board control
over the project. What do you think? Does a compromise gain or relinquish control?
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In two weeks, the League of Women Voters is hosting a Forks Supervisor Candidates' Forum. Do
you think it's important to attend and learn about how the candidates propose to help you, the
voters/residents of Forks?
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The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a public Forum for the declared Forks Supervisor
candidates on Sunday, April 22nd at 7:30 PM. Five of the six candidates have agreed to participate
in the evening's question and answer session. Questions will originate from the League, from the
press, and from the audience. The non-participating candidate? Why Supervisor John Ackerman!
Will Mr. Ackerman's decision to reject this opportunity for you to get to know more about him win
your vote in the Primary?
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Here we are, going into Round 5 (on Monday, March 26th) of the residents’ appeal of zoning
ordinance 298, the ordinance that allows a grocery use in the Economic Center. After the wealth of
testimony so far, how do you now feel whether or not this is spot zoning as the challengers
charge?
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