http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?new ... 6271&rfi=8

18 and older in East Union Twp.?


BY LESLIE RICHARDSON
STAFF WRITER
lrichardson@republicanherald.com
11/07/2006

SHEPPTON — If you are 18 or older and living in East Union Township, municipal officials want to know.

An ordinance was passed at Monday night’s board of supervisors meeting that requires everyone 18 or older to register with the tax collector’s office in Sheppton.

A penalty of $300 will be assessed to anyone who has not registered.

The registration will allow the township to collect the $13.50 per year per capita tax from all those of legal age.

The latest ordinance would also require all landlords to provide a list of tenants so better records can be kept.

The previous ordinance held the property owner responsible for the tax if the resident was not registered.

In other business, representatives of Valley Regional EMS and American Patient Transport Service, both of the Hazleton area, presented their bids to be named backup to the Nuremberg Community Ambulance that currently serves the township.

The Hazleton Community Ambulance had been providing the service, but manpower problems have forced it to terminate its relationship with the township.

Like the Hazleton Ambulance, either of the two providers would provide advanced life support and paramedic services to township residents, while the Nuremberg Community Ambulance would continue to provide basic life support services.

Township solicitor Frank R. Cori questioned the response time and success rate of the two providers which were comparable.

Supervisor Thomas Deeble expressed concern that APTS would need to travel from the city of Hazleton on busy Route 924 while Valley Regional would come from the Conyngham-Butler Township area and would have several travel options to reach the township.

Representatives of the Nuremberg Community Ambulance said at the meeting they backed the nonprofit Valley Regional Service.

The supervisors tabled the decision until next month.

In other business, complaints were received about illegal dumping on property close to Eagle Rock Resort.

The supervisors said that Eagle Rock does not own the property and they would find out who is paying the taxes on the property so the owner can be notified to clean up the mess.

Cori told the group that he has designed an identification card for the code enforcement officer, which would be presented before the officer enters any home for inspections.

A resident suggested that it also include a photo of the officer.

Cori also said that the supervisors will continue to discuss the proposed Illegal Immigration ordinance, but cautioned that a similar ordinance passed in Hazleton izs now in litigation.



©The REPUBLICAN & Herald 2006