Highway Information and Road Closures!
All roads are open.
GOT MAIL??
When the winter storms approach, some mailboxes seem to get
knocked over due to the heavy snow and ice. As a reminder, nothing
should be placed in the Township Right-of-Way. This includes
mailboxes.
Here are a few suggestions before a storm approaches:
Inspect your mailbox and post before the winter season begins.
Be sure your mailbox is located out of the Right-of-Way.
Be sure your post is in good condition with no rotting or
deterioration. If necessary, now is the time to replace the post.
Be sure the post and box is installed adequately and correctly.
Place your mailbox in a large bucket filled with sand or stone. This
enables you to move the bucket back out of the way before the storm
and it can be easily replaced after the snow is cleared.
Cantilever mailbox supports are another option. Here is some
information and a design of what the support consists of.
The Township has a responsibility to clear the road of snow and ice
for the safety of all residents. This is not an easy job and does
take skill. You know what it is like to shovel that wet, white
stuff. Imagine a snow plow moving the amount they move. The Township
is not responsible for damage to mailboxes or for mailboxes that
fall down. Take precautions to ensure your mailbox will withstand
the winter season. A little time and thought now could make all the
difference.
Flood Financial Update
We are nearing the end of completion of flood damaged infrastructure projects. One project is all that remains. We sustained damage to hundreds of areas throughout the Township. It has been a long, hard road, but with perseverance and a lot of hard work, our staff has done a tremendous job. From the road department repairing the damage to the office staff tracking sites and costs, we can be proud of their accomplishments.
To date, we have received FEMA reimbursements in the amount of $1,184,992.90. Approval has been obtained for an additional $56,592.22. Applications have been submitted requesting another $300,317.78 for completed work. This brings the total to $1,541,902.90. A balance of $17,500.00 is due to us for the Project Worksheet written for our outstanding project on Riverton Road. It appears that the repairs to this project will exceed the total amount of $70,000.00 provided for on the FEMA Project Worksheet. We are currently exploring our options for the repair and will be sure to submit a reimbursement request for all funds we expend.
We thank all of our residents for their patience, understanding and support during this repair process.
DPW Welcomes New Employee
Township resident Bill Williams joined the Township road department as a full time CDL employee in November. In addition to the required Commercial Drivers License, Bill brings a wealth of mechanical experience, equipment operation and safety training & certification to our family. Among his certifications are PennDOT Emissions Inspector, Certified Mechanic, Pipeline Safety Training (including Public Official), Confined Spaces Training, Safety Committee, Trenching & Shoring Safety, CPR/EAD and Emergency Management National Incident Management System (NIMS) Certification. Bill’s experience and training are certainly assets to Upper Mount Bethel Township. We welcome Bill and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor.
Upper Mount Bethel Township Highway department serves approximately 100 miles of local roads 365 days a year. You can help maintain our road system by contacting 911 if you discover the following:
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Road Obstructions such as rocks, trees, or animals.
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Flooding conditions
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Downed Power lines (Click for downed power line safety.)
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Suspicious packages
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Auto accidents
Contact us at ROAD DEPARTMENT - (570) 897-6127 for non-emergencies.
Report Missing Street Name Signs
Street Name Signs are a vital tool for our Fire, Ambulance, Police and Department of Public Works Responders in times of emergency. While the UMBT Department of Public Works regular full time employees know all of our roads, we do employ seasonal and part-time persons who are not as familiar with every road in the Township. The emergency responders, especially our volunteers, do not travel all of the roads in their jurisdiction on a daily basis and rely heavily on Street Name Signs to find locations of emergencies.
If you have an emergency, seconds count. If a street is not clearly posted with a Street Name Sign, response could be delayed. Help us ensure that this does not happen. If you know of a street name sign that is missing, please contact the Township Office at 570-897-6127 to report it. We will be sure to replace missing Township signs as quickly as possible. In addition, we will notify those responsible for private road signs of the missing sign and the need to replace it in a timely fashion.
If you see Township Street Name Signs, or any other Township property, in a location it should not be, please call us. We can make sure the items are returned to their proper location. Report any vandalism of Township property to the Pennsylvania State Police and the Township. Keep in mind that all missing Township property needs to be replaced. By reporting property you see, it will save your tax dollars by relocating the “misplaced” items rather than having to purchase new.
DISPLAY HOUSE NUMBERS
PROMINENTLY FOR SAFETY
During periodic township-wide inspections and in the course
of normal Township business, we often discover many homes
that do not have the house numbers prominently displayed.
This is vital in the event of an emergency. Since there are
large areas of undeveloped land and large lots located in
the Township, house numbers usually are not sequential.
Numbers must be set aside for the possibility of
accommodating future development. This makes the task of
locating your home more of a challenge for emergency service
providers.
Be sure to keep written directions, including the street you
live on and the nearest cross street, next to the telephone
in case you do need to call for help. Be sure your house
number is conspicuously placed so it is readily and easily
identifiable from the street or roadway which accesses the
property (be sure to keep any and all posts out of the
Township right-of-way), as per Township Ordinance 95.7. This
is especially important if someone in the house is unable to
give clear directions to the emergency dispatchers or is
unable to say more than a few words. It is recommended that
you utilize numbers that are a minimum of 3” and consider
reflective numbers for maximum visibility. This is a small
item; however, it can save your life or a loved one.
PennDOT urges homeowners to winterize their mailboxes
PennDOT and the U.S. Postal
Service are both expected to deliver during the winter season...
come rain, sleet, snow, or all of the above. The location of your
mailbox along the roadway can affect the efficiency of both mail
service and snow plowing operations.
Where is your mailbox located? Your letter carrier will make every
effort to deliver the mail. However, if the mailbox is not
accessible to the carrier due to snow buildup, or if it is not
properly located along the roadway, you may have to pick up your
mail at the post office. PennDOT allows property owners to place
mailboxes within the limits of the legal right-of-way, out of
respect for the U.S. Postal Service’s need to deliver, and mail
customers’ convenience of delivery. But because those boxes are
within the right-of-way, damages are the responsibility of the
property owner.
Normally, if a box is placed as far from the shoulder of the roadway
as the carrier can reach from a vehicle, and the mailbox rests on a
firm support, the box should be able to withstand the windrow of
snow from the plowing operations. Be sure your mailbox has a strong
support. You may also wish to use reflective tape or other material
to make it easier to see during storms or during dark hours.
Plowing operations can push snow against or in front of mailboxes,
limiting access and perhaps causing damage to supports. If the
mailbox support is within the highway right-of-way, it’s the owner’s
responsibility. Check your box and support often, clearing snow from
it and depositing the snow properly and in a manner to allow you and
motorists proper sight distances (and never on the roadway).
Homeowners who have followed these tips in the past and have still
experienced damaged mailboxes may wish to consider installing a
cantilevered mailbox support that will swing a mailbox out of harm’s
way. (Plans for building the cantilever mailbox support are
available via e-mail by request. Just send an e-mail requesting the
plans to: rmason@state.pa.us)
If you have questions as to the proper location of your mailbox
along the roadway, contact your local post office.
PennDOT urges your cooperation in winterizing your mailboxes for the
snow season. Taking steps to ensure the visibility and stability of
mailboxes will help PennDOT and letter carriers deliver their best
this winter.
Contact:
Rick Mason @ (570) 368-4202
UPPER MT. BETHEL TOWNSHIP
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
387 YE OLDE HIGHWAY
MT. BETHEL, PA 18343
PHONE: 570-897-6127
FAX: 570-897-0108
