Township to restrict traffic on Garey Rd.

UNION TWP. >> Township supervisors are ready to install a “no left turn” sign at northbound Garey Road at the eastern end of the Daniel Boone High School property.

The turn restriction was recommended by the board in April, along with a new, threestop intersection at Garey Road and Fourth Street.

Board members recommended these traffic controlling devices to in an ongoing effort to reduce speeding from the high school at southbound Garey Road, to northbound Garey Road, where it intersects with Route 724.

Garey Road residents have complained to the board for years, asking their local government officials to find and employ a solution.

Supervisor Nelson L. Ott Jr., met with Garey Road residents

last November, who were “fed up” with drivers speeding on the road.

Residents told him that drivers were ignoring the four-way intersection at Garey Road and Lanie Drive.

The township created the four-way intersection in February 2014 when it installed stop signs on Garey Road.

Supervisors’ Chairman Donald E. Basile said last November that Township Engineer Thomas Unger should find a solution.

Board members said in September that a recent engineering study does not support a multi-stop sign at Garey Road and Fourth Street.

They did not approve a speed bump study.

Currently, the only solution is to ask drivers exiting the eastern end of the high school property to not turn left onto northbound Garey Road.

After the township has installed the “no left turn” sign, drivers are asked to turn right onto southbound Garey Road, from which they can turn left onto Center Road to reach Route 724.

Raymond Benischeck, 328 Garey Road, said in April that the four-way stop signs at Garey Road and Lanie Drive have “really helped,” but said that more needs to be done to protect residents.

He supported the “no left turn” sign idea, as well as the three-way stop at Garey Road and Fourth Street.

“The people from Garey Road -- we don’t want to slow those people going to work -- trying to get to Route 724,” said Peter D. Biggerstaff, 262 Garey Road, who had two dogs killed on Garey Road within the last seven years.

In other news, the supervisors stated at their Oct. 17 meeting that they have included an annual 5-percent subsidy increase to the Boone Area Library, 129 N. Mill St., Birdsboro.

That increases the township’s annual subsidy from $13,387 to $14,056.

Susan Fix, president of the library’s board, and Cheryl R. Martinozzi, vice president, presented to the board the library’s recent summer reading successes, future programs, and future capital needs.

They said the library had 350 visitors over a 10week period this summer, during which the library conducted 20 events.

Some 300 people signed up, and there was a 53-percent increase in the adult reading program.

Special f undraising events have raised $17,424, which is 11 percent of the library’s operating budget.

“Our goal is to develop a three-year plan to meet the community’s changing needs,” said Martinozzi.

“We have renegotiated the mortgage (four years left), but we need masonry repairs, new commercial gutters, HVAC repairs, and to update the electrical systems.”

She said the estimated cost is $10,275.

The community’s changing needs include the closing of the Birdsboro Elementary Center within one to two years by the Daniel Boone School Board.

“You are doing a good job for us, and we appreciate it,” said Basile.