HARRISBURG, July 3 – Representatives John Siptroth and Mike Peifer, and Senator Lisa Baker, all hailed passage of legislation that would grant Pike County state-owned land in Milford.
House Bill 2158, co-sponsored by Siptroth and Peifer, would authorize the Department of General Services, with the approval of the state Department of Transportation and the governor, to grant Pike County 3.3 acres in Milford, which includes PennDOT’s Pike County maintenance facility, in exchange for 13.5 acres in Blooming Grove Township.
The lawmakers said exchange would serve as a solution to Pike County’s problems with personnel space and storage constraints and provide additional parking areas, since the new land would be used to expand administrative offices.
Siptroth said many county departments must be located within Milford borough because it is the county seat, but land availability is scarce. With the land exchange, PennDOT can provide services more efficiently and effectively and be more centrally located in Pike County. A new location for its maintenance shed has already been chosen.
“This land exchange is a perfect solution and makes the most sense financially,” Siptroth said. “I’m happy this bill is on its way to becoming law so that PennDOT and Pike County will now have the facilities they need to better serve area residents.”
“I commend the Pike County Commissioners for pushing this idea forward, it will save taxpayer dollars and improve services to the public at both the state and county level,” said Baker.
“It is great to see this project finally come to fruition,” Peifer said. “The Pike County commissioners and PennDOT have been working on this project for a number of years and I believe the transfer is a ‘win-win’ for all Pike County residents.”
A similar bill, Senate Bill 1227, was introduced in December 2007 by Senator Baker and was passed unanimously by the Senate on June 10th.
The bill now goes to the House for concurrence, where it is expected to pass and be sent to the governor to be signed into law.
CONTACT:
State Representative John Siptroth
Ashley Conjar, House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839
E-mail: aconjar@pahouse.net
State Senator Lisa Baker
Brian Grove, Chief of Staff
Phone: 570-675-3931 Fax: 570-820-4848
E-mail: bgrove@pasen.gov
State Representative Mike Peifer
Todd Abele, House Republican Communications Office
Phone: 717-783-2037 Fax: 717-705-7012
E-mail: tabele@pahousegop.com