Johnson appointed Ridgebury supervisor

By Amanda Renko (Staff Writer)
Published: February 2, 2012

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Ridgebury Township supervisors Wednesday appointed John Johnson to fill the spot left vacant when supervisor James Allen resigned last month.

Johnson was sworn in at Wednesday's meeting after supervisors Gary Gee and Kevin Yaggie voted to appoint him to the position. Gee said that Johnson stood out from several others interested in the position because of his interest in improving the community and his recent write-in campaign for a spot on the Athens Area School District board of education. Johnson, a potato farmer, has lived in the township for about seven years.

Supervisors also accepted Allen's resignation at Wednesday's meeting.

Residents in attendance Wednesday expressed concern over the proposed closure of Gladys Burnham Elementary School, which serves township students. The school is one of three to be temporarily closed as part of a proposed restructuring of the Athens Area School District.

David Baker, who has two children in the district, asked supervisors to write a letter to the board of education. Baker said he was concerned about the amount of time his children would spend on a school bus traveling to and from East Smithfield, where the proposed SRU Elementary School would be located.

"What is this going to do to young families in the township?" Baker asked.

Supervisors agreed with the residents' concerns. Gee, who until last September served on the school board, said he has talked to board members about his issues with the plan.

"This school is very important," said supervisor Gary Gee, a former member of the school board. "It's full, so it's not like we don't have anyone in them."

Supervisors encouraged residents to attend an upcoming informational meeting to let their concerns be heard. That meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 at Athens Area High School.

Gee and Yaggie also stated their concerns with a proposed $5.6 million project in the Bentley Creek watershed. The project, proposed by federal and state conservation agencies, would require the installation of a 2,400-foot dike along a portion of the creek in the township.

Yaggie said the plan was not a priority for the township at this time. Instead, supervisors are focusing their energies on repairing about $750,000 in flood-damaged roads and removing gravel, trees and other debris from the creek, he said.

Supervisors also voiced concerns that businesses near the proposed location of the dike would leave the area if it were to be installed.

"We've got more important things to do at this point," Gee said. "It's a big deal to get this creek fixed."

Supervisors filled two additional vacancies Wednesday, appointing treasurer Judy Walsh as the township's tax collector and secretary Tammi Talada as emergency management coordinator.

Walsh announced Wednesday that federal and state emergency management agencies will reimburse the township over $165,000 for expenses incurred as a result of flooding in April. FEMA representatives will meet with township officials in the coming weeks to evaluate damage from September's flood for potential reimbursement, Walsh said.

Amanda Renko can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or email: arenko@thedailyreview.com.

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