Carbon County’s largest municipality, Penn Forest Township, already levies no property tax. Starting with 2025’s tax cycle, there will be no $10 per capita tax either.

A short discussion at the start of the township’s Feb. 5 meeting resulted in the tax elimination, with supervisors saying the costs in preparing and collecting the tax eat up most of the proceeds. By unanimous vote, supervisors authorized township solicitor Thomas Nanovic to start the process to repeal the tax by ordinance.

On a 4-1 vote, supervisors are looking to adopt a parental leave policy for six weeks, and at 70% pay. Supervisor Dr. Pat Holland voted no, saying he thought the pay should be 60-70% while the employee is out as opposed to the 100% pay that was proposed for the vote.

The steps to draft an ordinance will begin, and the idea revisited to work out the details.

A presentation of a concept to build a series of gravel multi-use trails through the township for walking and biking was given by local businessman and interested citizen Talon Fogal and Dr. Holland.

Holland had broached the idea at a meeting this fall.

A slide show was given on its possibilities. The idea is to seek grants to study how a trail could fit into various places - some shared on private property and more on public lands.

The first phase would start near the park. Building trails farther out north and south to connect other parts of the township would be phased, depending on grants.

It is hoped that grants could fund the entire trails construction.

In later phases Hickory Run State Park, Lake Harmony and even Jim Thorpe could be connected. The idea was supported by supervisors and audience members.

A proposal by the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce to host a cornhole tournament as a business mixer with food and beer at the township park on Thursday evening, July 25, was bandied about.

Supervisors chairman Roger Meckes told organizer Jessica Kohutka that he “is 100% against alcohol in the park.”

It was explained the event would be adults who are 21 and older and beer dispensing carefully supervised. Meckes does not want to set a precedent. It was noted park rules call for no alcohol. Other supervisors were of mixed opinions on the idea. Former supervisor Judy Knappenberger agreed with Meckes that the park should have no alcohol. The item was tabled.

A Color Run Festival, raising money for Hardship Heroes, was given approval to be held Sunday, June 23 at the township park. Since they are bringing food vendors, it was pointed out that the vendors will need liability insurance per park rules.

Other business

Residents of the Beltzville Lake Estates, Indian Mountain Lakes and Towamensing Trails property owners’ associations are exempted from being required to pay for a township garbage permit. The members can buy a permit if they want one.

• OIIS Innovative Industrial Solutions was added to the list for hire-as-needed snow plowing contractors at a rate of $85 an hour for one truck. The company was used during the last snowstorm.

• Roadmaster Meckes reported that the tree contractor continues to do a good job. He also asked area drivers to give the township’s plow crews extra room to help them do their jobs safely.

• The township will be a member of the Carbon County Council of Governments and appointed supervisor Christian Bartulovich as a delegate. Dues are $100.

• Under right-to-knows, 63 administrative and financial requests and 60 zoning & septic requests were responded to.

• The Zoning Department conducted 106 UCC inspections in January, and issued 11 zoning permits, 7 zoning certificates of occupancy, 6 business CofOs, and permitted construction of three new homes.