Municipal News

Last Updated on Saturday, 28 February 2015 02:59

By J.R. Brower

Representatives of the local Pennsylvania Equine Council were granted permission by the Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors to use the municipal building for a meeting on Saturday, March 15. The all-day meeting with workshops, which will begin at 7:30 a.m., will be open to the general public, and will be attended by area equine group members interested in improving the horse riding trails in Mingo Park.

Bob Hutton and Tammy Schwetzer are organizing an effort to improve the trails in Mingo Park for horseback riding

Speaking to the supervisors at their February 16 meeting were Tammy Schwetzer of Somerset Township and Bob Hutton of Nottingham. The two spoke about the deteriorating conditions of the trails in Mingo Park, which are used by horseback riders as well as mountain bikers and hikers. Some of the sections of the 18-mile network of trails in the park have gotten to the point that they have become dangerous to the horses and their riders.

"The trails definitely need to be repaired, and if they are not, they could be shut down," said Schwetzer.

She and Hutton are both members of the Washington County-based Mountain Valley Trail Riders, a group that promotes good horsemanship and awareness about horses and equine related subjects. They said that the reason for the meeting is to identify just what needs to be done to upgrade the trails and put together a plan of action to make the necessary improvements.

Schwetzer is meeting with Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi to discuss the situation. She explained that there are government funding grants available for repairs such as these, but they have to be applied for by organizations rather than local governments. No doubt, this will be a major topic at the equine group's meeting on March 15.

In other business, the Nottingham supervisors:

Were notified by PennDOT that in coming months, they will be collecting traffic data on Sugar Run Road between Parkview and Hamton and on Barr Road between Sugar Run and Munntown.Announced the purchase of a Kubota Zero Turn Tractor from Murphy Family, Inc for $12,998.Were notified by Rice Energy of their intention to drill a natural gas well in Fallowfield Township, and by Range Resources of their plans to continue to develop a natural gas well in North Strabane Township.