THE ANNUAL REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012, AT 7:00 pm IN THE BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING.

THE BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP AUDITORS REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 AT 7:00 PM IN THE BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING.

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2012 BUDGET

The Budget for Bridgewater Township for the year 2012 has been prepared and is ready for review.  The budget can be reviewed for the next 20 days by calling 278-1373 for an appointment or stopping into the Bridgewater Township Office on Monday through Friday between 8:00 and 3:00.

The budget will be adopted by the Supervisors at the December 19, 2011 meeting.

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New Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Bridgewater Township has received and is reviewing the Preliminary copies of the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study reports.  Our review reveals there have been some changes to the FIRMS.

We are notifying those we feel have been affected by letter that there may be changes that could affect their property.  We encourage them to review the maps, either at the Township Building between the hours of 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM, or by appointment with our Emergency Management Coordinator, Jack Lasher, 570-396-0024.

After their review they are to follow the procedures in the Floor Hazard Mapping Fact Sheet if they wish to challenge or “protest” any data except the proposed Base Flood Elevations (BFE).

Flood Insurance Rate Maps are available at the Township Building for anyone who wishes to look at them.

Road Maintenance Update

Our normal road working activity was curtailed by the remnants of Hurricane Irene on August 27 and 28 which brought down many trees and severely damaged roads throughout the Township. As work progressed on repairing this damage we were hit by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee on September 7 and 8 which caused more extensive road damage on already repaired roads and additional roads not affected by Irene. As repairs continued on damage from these two storms we were again affected by heavy rain on already saturated ground on September 26, 27, and 28 causing more road and ditch washouts. East Bridgewater experienced the heaviest damage and work is now underway repairing that damage and cleaning and replacing culverts affected by all three storms. We do have one crew working roads that were not previously worked and plan to work somre roads that were worked earlier in the year, weather permitting.

 

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_WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CALL?!?

When A Disaster Has Damaged Your Home?

Who are you going to call to report your home's damage and the loss you experienced after a disaster has occurred?

Damage collections starts at the lowest level of government, Bridgewater Township. Damage reporting starts with each individual citizen.

Municipalities are responsible for collecting damage reports from their residents. Citizens are responsible for knowing the process that is in place for collecting those reports. To find out, contact Bridgewater Township and ask for the procedures used to collect damages from citizens during a disaster.

Reporting damage and loss is crucial in helping you and your community recover from any disaster. Knowing to whom you should report your damage and loss will help move tis process along more quickly.

The Municipality Representative to call is the Bridgewater Township Emergency Management Coordinator - Jack Lasher 570-396-0024.

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PSATS 89TH TOWNSHIP CONVENTION ATTENDANCE

PSATS CONVENTION INFORMATION

NOTE:

The only individuals who are authorized to use hydrants are fire department personnel for fighting fires and Pennsylvania American Water employees for system maintenance. Unauthorized use is illegal and can cause damage to a fire hydrant, rendering it inoperative when needed for a fire. Oftentimes, these damages are not discovered until our annual inspection or when the hydrants are needed during an emergency.

Kirk Heffner completed th Geosynthetics BMPs for Stormwater Management Course on November 2, 2011

Contact Information:

phone:
570-278-1373

fax:
570-278-1306

e-mail
bridgewater297@frontiernet.net

Township Truck

Welcome

Welcome to the Bridgewater Township website.  With this media we hope to provide the pubic an overview of our township and a means of keeping you informed and up to date of activities in the township.  By doing so, we welcome your feedback. 

Please feel free to offer suggestions for improvement, let us know what interest you and send articles or data that would be of interest to others in the township.  For those that do not have a computer you may receive a hard copy by requesting same from Connie Ely, Bridgewater Township Secretary.

About Bridgewater Township

Bridgewater Township is located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania in the area known as the Endless Mountains.  The Township has a history of being an agriculture area; however, agriculture has declined in economic importance but remains an important element of the rural working landscape.  Timber harvesting and related industries continue to be an integral part of the productive use of open lands with bluestone quarrying gaining an economic importance.  Presently the development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction looms as a major contributor to the economic well being of the area.

The Township surrounds the Borough of Montrose and is also boarded by Brooklyn, Dimock, Forest Lake, Franklin, Jessup, New Milford, and Silver Lake Townships.  The land area is 40.5 square miles.  The 2000 census population was 2668 and reflects a growth of 12.7% from the 1990 which was 2368.  Our population per square mile is 66.

There are several lakes in the Township.  Montrose Lake is the source of water for Montrose Borough and portions of the Township.  The lake is bordered by a mix of commercial and residential area.  Heart Lake is situated partially in Bridgewater Township and New Milford Townships and has a history of being a summer retreat for people from the nearby city areas.  Presently there are many year round residents.  Lake Chris Ann and Lake Raylean are mostly residential areas with a mix of part time and full time residents.

Major watersheds in the Township are Wyalusing Creek, Snake Creek, Meshoppen Creek and HopBottom Creek.

Bridgewater Township was established in 1798.  The first permanent settler was Stephen Wilson who came from Vermont and built a log cabin in 1798 just south of Montrose.  Another early settler was Daniel Brewster who settled near Brewster Pond, which is named after him.  Other early settlers were Joseph Butterfield, Henry Vail, Zebulon Bullard, Reuben Wells, William Jones, Albert Wells and Dennis Wells.  These families settled near the present village of South Montrose.

Economic Outlook 2010

The present economic situation has impacted the Township.  Liquid fuels funding from the state was reduced 4% in 2009 and projected to drop 3% in 2010.  This money is used for a major portion of our road maintenance.  The reduction is due to the decreased fuel consumption brought on by the depressed economy and sustained higher fuel prices.  At the same time we are experiencing increases in cost for our road materials, fuel, and repair/maintenance parts for the equipment.

Although there has been an increase in spending and decrease in Liquid Fuels funding the 2010 budget keeps the tax rates the same as 2009.