The Upper Nazareth Board of Supervisors has now voted to discuss with the Nazareth Area School District the traffic light at the intersection of East Lawn Road and Friedenstahl according to an article in the Express-Times (read it here).
The NASD recently removed $500,000 held in escrow for the project after PADOT turned down UNT’s plans for the light.
According to this article, it noted that NASD agreed to fund the project and UNT would get the necessary approvals.
NASD now claims the cost will be $1.5M and that was the reason for pulling the funds.
UNT has indicated through their solicitor that a condition of the building permit was the light and they could retroactively withdraw it.
NASD chose the location, they understood the implications of the choice, and now they don’t want to accept the consequences of their decision. Ironically, this will get positioned as trying to save money for the taxpayer, when the Middle School project itself, opposed by many residents at the time as too costly and unnecessary, has now significantly increased our annual expenses and our total debt.
5 comments:
Interesting how a small group of 20 or so people got the board to add the $5 Million pool, but they can't figure out how to side with public safety and get the traffic light done.
Incredible.
20 or so could add a pool, 60 or so couldn't convince them the building was expensive with or without the pool.
Now, a good portion of the building sits empty, but we'll be ready when enrollment surges again. I believe it was speced for 12-1300 students and we have about 800 students (my guess they aren't publishing enrollment in board minutes regularly anymore).
Bottom line, a stop light can't be shown off or compared to what other schools have, so who cares?
One has to ask, why are they concerned about spending now?
They spent a boat load on the new MS.
They built a new maintenance facility.
They built a new field house.
They built a new weight room.
They gave themselves raises.
They gave the teachers yet another bloated contract.
ALL in an economy that was going down the toilet.
I think NOC hit the nail on the head. They can't put their names on a traffic light, they can't boast that we have one and no other school does, and it doesn't personally benefit them.
NewsOverCoffee said...
"I believe it was speced for 12-1300 students and we have about 800 students"
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As of October 14th:
High School (9,10,11,12) 1572
Middle School (7,8) 742
Intermediate School (4,5,6) 1056
3 Grade Schools (K,1,2,3) 1273
Last night at the district's Audit & Finance Committee Meeting (they are open to the public) I asked about the intersection but did not receive any more information than we already have.
This is a project that needs to get done NOW! During early morning when parents are dropping off kids, buses and high school kids driving to school and others commuting to work this intersection is dangerous. It is the same at dismissal time. It was supposed to be done when the school was done. There is no excuse for not getting it done. completed. Are they going to wait until someone is injured or killed........Township and school need to get together and do the responsible thing.
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