Friday, August 28, 2009

Department of Health to distribute potassium iodide next week

The state Department of Health is making potassium iodide (KI) tablets available free to members of the general public within a 10-mile radius of nuclear power plants who voluntarily want them. Elizabethtown is within the radius of Three Mile Island.

The tablets can be stored in people’s homes and taken under the order of the secretary of health if necessary in the aftermath of a serious emergency at Three Mile Island. The tablets assist in minimizing the effect of radiation on the thyroid gland in the unlikely event of an exposure.

KI was distributed to people in the past and most table packets have now expired.

The tablets will be available between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2 or 3, at the Free Masons Cultural Center, Masonic Village.

For further information, people can contact the Department of Health's southeast district office at 610-378-4352.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Boil-water advisory for Elizabethtown and area lifted

The Elizabethtown Area Water Authority lifted the boil-water advisory at 12:30 p.m. today after receiving word from the state Department of Environmental Protection that the water was free of contamination.

Residents of Elizabethtown, Mount Joy Township and West Donegal Township who are on "city water" now can return to normal usage and consumption of water.

I confirmed the news with official sources after hearing through the grapevine that the advisory was lifted late this afternoon.

For more information about water in the Elizabethtown area or the advisory, contact EAWA at 367-7448.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Water authority delivering free water from tankers

The Elizabethtown Area Water Authority began delivering potable water from tankers this evening at the Elizabethtown Fire Department, the Rheems Fire Department and the Mount Joy Township municipal building.

Water will be available at these locations from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for those customers who do not wish to purchase bottled water or want to boil their own water. This water will be available until the advisory is lifted.

A committee consisting of representatives from EAWA, Elizabethtown borough, Mount Joy Township and West Donegal Township met this afternoon to review the status of the boil water advisory and potential contamination. A decision was made -- purely as a precaution -- to shut down Well No. 5 on Beechwood Lane, which is the well closest to the contamination spot. The water plant is operating and can more than accommodate the loss of this well. This committee will meet daily until this issue has been closed.

EAWA customers who have questions about the boil-water advisory can call EAWA at 367-7448.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Boil-water advisory issued for E-town and Mount Joy Township (including Rheems)

The Elizabethtown Area Water Authority issued a boil-water advisory for residents of Elizabethtown and Mount Joy Township (including Rheems) after routine testing turned up elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.

EAWA said residents must boil water for two minutes to make it safe for drinking. It is OK to bathe in water from the tap. The advisory affects those who are on "city water" -- and does not impact residents who have private well water.

The source of the bacteria has not been determined, but EAWA is working to flush and chlorinate the system to ensure water is safe for drinking. However, it will be at least Friday before the advisory can be lifted because results from tests to be taken Wednesday won't be back for 48 hours.

For more information, residents can contact EAWA at 367-7448.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Sen. Specter to visit Elizabethtown Train Station

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter will visit the Elizabethtown Train Station Monday at 11:15 a.m. to promote the jobs that the federal stimulus is generating.

Specter's visit coincides with the start of the project. At 5 a.m. Monday, Lobar Construction of Dillsburg will begin moving equipment to the site, setting up an on-site office, connecting phone lines and making preparations for the work. All of this will occur in front of the train station, and the borough staff ask commuters for their patience during the project, which is expected to take a year to complete.

The project is starting thanks to Elizabethtown's receiving authorization from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Borough Council is grateful for PennDOT's approval so that a fabulous project that will benefit Elizabethtown, Lancaster County and the Commonwealth.

Lightning strikes traffic light at Maytown Road

For the second time in about three months, lightning struck the traffic light at Market Street (Route 230) and Maytown Road (Route 743).

During a thunderstorm on Wednesday evening, the lightning strike melted conduit and wire that is under the road. Although the borough's contractor got the light functioning, the damage has thrown off the ideal timing for the light -- and that means drivers can expect delays at the intersection.

Because the Elizabethtown Fair starts Monday, the borough will see a tremendous influx of traffic. To help traffic flow better and alleviate some congestion, Borough Council has decided to hire a contractor to help control traffic at the intersection. From 3 to 6 p.m. for the duration of the fair. The contractor then will move to the square at Market and High streets to control traffic from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Residents might remember that a contractor was stationed at the borough's square during the first phase of construction of West College Avenue by the expansion of the M&M/Mars factory. By all accounts, the contractor helped ease the traffic issues then, which is why Borough Council decided to bring him in during fair week.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Pa. budget fiasco delays train station project

Construction was to have started today on the Elizabethtown Train Station, but the budget fiasco in Harrisburg delayed the project.

The reason, according to Borough Manager Pete Whipple, is that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is administering the federal stimulus money. And since there is no state budget, PennDOT will not release any of the money, which will reimburse Elizabethtown for the work on the train station.

Because the borough has taken out a loan for the project, the money is available, and Whipple told Borough Council that he even told PennDOT the borough would pay and wait for reimbursement. But without a signed reimbursement agreement, he said, PennDOT did not want to go that route.

For the record, Borough Council is not upset with PennDOT. As with residents across the Commonwealth, we can't believe our Legislature can't come to an agreement and, in turn, get a project that will provide jobs and economic development on track.