At the March 18 Evesham Township Council meeting, the council continued the theme of redevelopment from its previous meeting by introducing an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of properties located within the redevelopment area along the Route 70 and Route 73 corridor.
The specific properties are familiarly known as “G Boys,” and “Tri-Towne Shopping Center.” The council has commissioned appraisals to establish the properties’ fair market values if the council decides to more forward with redevelopment acquisition.
Evesham Township Manager William Cromie said the council is just preparing should the need arise to acquire the properties in regard to the township redevelopment plan.
“That order just allows the council to acquire the property under redevelopment, if necessary,” Cromie said.
According to the ordinance, the council is going to continue pursing means by which it can facilitate the properties to be privately redeveloped, but should that not happen, the council would have authorization to proceed with the acquisition of the properties if financially feasible and necessary to continue with the redevelopment plan.
In other news, there was also a presentation identifying all available road money and then recommending a road program that’s pends the available dollars where they will have the most impact.
The factors in determining the condition of the road were safety considerations and accident history, traffic volume, number of homes, length, last date paved and grant availability.
“We outlined the streets we recommended be repaired,” Cromie said. “Council agreed with our recommendations.”
The roads first recommended for repair are Merion Road, Concord Road, Bon Air Drive, Village Avenue, Colonial Avenue, Chadwick Avenue, Erynwood Avenue and Carlton Avenue.
Council also renewed contracts for janitorial services for municipal properties for April 9 to April8, 2015, athletic field services (including aeration, seeding, fertilization and spraying) from March19 to March 18, 2015, and for asphalt and concrete contractors from March 5 to March 4, 2015.
The council also honored several groups and community members with proclamations:
•Employees at the department of public works were honored for their hard work removing the snow this winter. They were also honored for supporting the township in having the newly added responsibility of plowing county roads.
“I’m really proud of the hard work they did with their excellent plowing and salting of the roads,” Cromie said.
•Al Lutner and members of Relay for Life were honored for having annually raised $100,000 through their efforts. Mayor Randy Brown said the month of May would now be Relay for Life Month in Evesham Township.
•The Evesham Celebrations Foundation awarded the Sports Unity Program with $1,000.Spring season will feature track and cheerleading for special needs children. •The Evesham Cycling Club was recognized for various charitable endeavors, including raising more than $100,000 for the MS Society.
•Officer Carl Scut was recognized as Police Officer of the Month. Scut has not taken a sick day in his 13 years. Evesham Police Chief Christopher Chew said Scut’s father and grandfather also never missed a day of work.