The Hopewell Township Committee recently met to discuss traffic safety improvements, staffing changes, new public works projects, and upcoming community events during their August 19 and September 4 meetings.
Resignation of Jim Hutzlemann
Township Engineer and Director of Community Development Jim Hutzelmann will be resigning effective September 13 of this year.
“It’s been my pleasure to serve Hopewell, and more importantly, the residents. I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by great staff over my time here,” said Hutzelmann. “It’s really been a pleasure, and I wish nothing but the best for Hopewell, and I look forward to the next chapter in my career.”
Taking his place will be the Interim Township Engineer Herb Seeburg and the Interim Zoning Officer Andrei Alexeev.
Reported traffic concerns
Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning thanked the residents who reached out to the Township to report areas of traffic concern.
“These reports are very useful to the Township,” said Peters-Manning, “and help the Committee identify problems and seek solutions.”
Three problematic locations the Township is currently looking into include:
- The intersection of Ingleside Avenue and State Route 31;
- The intersections of Scotch Road with Pennington-Harbourton Road and Pennington-Titusville Road; and
- A request for a flashing light at the pedestrian crossing point from Twins Pines to Brandon Farms
The Township is reaching out to the County for solutions to these concerns, and in the meantime is open to discussing measures that the Township can take without County involvement. Mayor Peters-Manning expressed that she welcomes all residents to reach out to her or other Township representatives if they see an area that they believe needs attention. She also recommended that concerned residents watch the presentation given on June 10 for more information on the procedures used to determine proper traffic safety measures. (The presentation begins at minute 7:00 and lasts approximately 30 minutes.)
New open space property at Cleveland Road
Open Space Acquisition Funds have been allocated to purchase Block 40 on Cleveland Road, a 20-acre property known as the Giardino Property, valued at $400,000. The Township will provide 10% of the funding for the acquisition, according to Snyder; 50% of the remaining funding will come from D&R Canal Green Acres funding and Mercer County. The purchase is being led by Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FOHVOS), who will be adding it to the FOHVOS deer management program.
Grant for an ambulance
The Township has received a state grant to purchase a new ambulance for the fire district. Mayor Peters-Manning thanked George Snyder, the Township Administrator and Public Works Director, and all who worked on the grant application.
ELSA Litigation
In an update to the Committee, Township Attorney Steven Goodell shared that the judge has ruled in favor of Hopewell Township in the litigation between Hopewell and Ewing-Lawrence Sewage Authority (ELSA).
The initial litigation was brought by the property development groups Deer Valley Realtors and Lenar in response to ELSA’s refusal to accept sewage flow from the new developments in Hopewell Township, according to Goodell. ELSA filed a cross-claim, in response, against Hopewell Township, arguing that ELSA lacked the capacity to accept flow from these developments and that the Township was therefore responsible for this sewage flow.
Goodell said that the court has ruled that ELSA does indeed have the capacity to support the flow. Furthermore, because these developments will provide a significant percentage of the affordable housing for Hopewell Township, the Deer Valley project serves an important regional interest.
Hiohela Pond Dam Decommission
A dam was found during an ongoing study done in preparation for dredging Hiohela Pond. This dam is over a century years old and has “never been inspected,” according to Snyder. The Township, as the legal owner of the dam, is responsible for inspecting and repairing the dam. A hydrologic analysis will be necessary to evaluate the dam and determine if it is safe to decommission, said Snyder; since the dam pre-dates modern safety standards and is in very poor condition, it will at minimum require major upgrades.
“We are going to be on a very long, maybe ten-year, time frame of doing significant upgrades to that dam,” said Snyder, who indicated that decommissioning the dam might be a more cost-effective solution.
Community Events
There will be a memorial service at Woolsey Park at 11:00 AM to celebrate Patriot’s Day on September 11th.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. During the proclamation, Committee Member Michael Ruger and Mayor Courtney Peters Manning reminded all citizens that although the COVID-19 epidemic caused a delay in screenings for many people, prostate cancer screenings are simple blood tests. When caught early, this type of cancer has a very high survival rate.
Deer hunting season begins September 14. Follow posted signs, wear bright colors, and stay on the trails when in the woods.
The Lawrence-Hopewell Trail’s 9th annual Full Moon bike ride will take place on September 14, with check-in beginning at 7:00 PM. The meetup will begin at Rosedale Lake.
As part of his final staff report, Jim Hutzelmann announced that the 2024 Road Paving Program will begin in Titusville this coming week.
Hopewell Township will be sponsoring flu clinics through September and October. Residents should bring insurance cards, but vaccination is free for all residents of the Township with proof of residency. Clinics will be held September 6th, October 1st, and October 15th. Registration is required.
The Senior Picnic is set for September 12 at Washington Crossing State Park with a rain date of September 19.
