Group wants to make equipment accessible to all

The Back Mountain Community Partnership met on Oct. 18 to discuss emergency trailers that are being purchased. The partnership purchased equipment with previous grant money for the emergency response crews and is now looking to make accessibility to this equipment quick and easy, so emergency crews can be on scene as fast as possible.

The partnership is planning the purchase of two trailers, which will be fully loaded with equipment needed by the crews. The trailers will be titled to Lehman Township, but the partnership will be responsible for additional costs the township may incur because of the trailers.

President James Reino reported the requests for Phase Two of this project must be prepared before Dec. 31.

Mark Van Etten, a representative from the Luzerne County Tax Collection Committee, reported that contracts with Berkheimer have not been signed yet, but collection is not delayed and that Berkheimer has started processing second-quarter returns. Several municipal representatives confirmed they are receiving funds. He also reported that Berkheimer has sent address verification forms to all residents.

Van Etten also updated the partnership on the status of the 2011-2012 Local Share Account Grant, reporting the project is moving forward. The partnership has already received a preliminary rendition of the building and is working on bid preparation.

The partnership committee discussed the purchase of a JAMAR Radar Data Recorder and agreed that it would apply for a general grant to cover the cost of it and other potential public safety equipment they may need. Without the grant, each municipality would need to pay approximately $940.

In other business, the partnership:

• Discussed looking into the possibility of natural gas vehicles with a projection of at least one year.

• Reported that Dallas Borough is looking into purchasing a 4x4 police vehicle.

• Discussed the possibility of equipping police cars with digital video equipment. Jackson Township representatives said that Brite Computers, which recently installed mobile data terminals in cars for several of the municipalities, makes a digital video system that ties directly into the data terminals. The committee decided to investigate this system.

The next Back Mountain Community Partnership meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15 in Room 218 of Insalaco Hall on the campus of Misericordia University.