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By J.R. Brower

At their June 15 meeting, the Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors heard from Joe Judeikis, 105 Mingo Church Road, who reported that a large number of feral cats have caused problems around his home. He said his wife was especially upset about the damage to their home and yard that they are causing.

He asked the board if wild cats are addressed specifically in any township ordinances and if anything could be done.

Sue Ryaby, 32 Little Mingo Road, told the board that she also has problems with too many feral cats. She said that she has called pet animal rescues groups, who have come out to her farm and captured cats to take care of and help find homes for.

She said that she thinks the problem has escalated through the years, because irresponsible people dump their unwanted cats along the roadsides of rural Nottingham.
Supervisor Doug King said that he would talk to township animal control officer Kim Secreet about the feral cat problem to see what can be done.

In another matter, as a result of a federal mandate regarding new floodplain management guidelines as it relates to structures and flood insurance, municipalities throughout Pennsylvania are required by the state Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) to revise their floodplain ordinances.

In order to make their ordinance compliant, the Nottingham supervisors heard a report from the township engineering firm, who worked on the proposed floodplain ordinance, which the board expects to formally approve by August and enact no later than September 3.

Sarah Boyce of Widmer Engineering, Inc., Washington, PA., reported that currently, there are no residences located within a floodplain in Nottingham Township. The only creeks in Nottingham that have floodplains are Mingo Creek and Peters Creek. She said that the ordinance states that if any buildings are constructed in floodplain areas, they cannot affect the floodplain itself.

Boyce also said that six Nottingham residents who live close to the floodplain areas have flood insurance, but only one has filed a claim in the last 10 years. Supervisor King said that his take on the new floodplain regulations was that it would make more homes near floodplains eligible for flood insurance.

Boyce agreed and added that the ordinance addresses the implications and ramifications of the increasing frequency of "100-year storm events," which are defined as floods caused by at least five inches of rain in a 24-hour period.

The PA DCED recommended that no changes be made to the final draft of the floodplain ordinance. A motion was made and passed to advertise for the required public hearing in July, after which the supervisors can approve the ordinance.

In other business at their June 15 meeting, the Nottingham Board of Supervisors:
• Approved the appointment of Gerald Dixon, 45 Agostoni Road, to complete the remaining term on the Planning Commission ending January, 2019. Also approved for the Planning Commission was the appointment of Judith Forster, 117 Pine Nut Drive, to complete a term ending January, 2017.
• Acknowledged receipt of a notification from EQT, of Pittsburgh, providing well permit applications and plats describing the company's intent to drill for Marcellus Shale natural gas at two sites on the property of R. Smith in Carroll Township.
• Acknowledged receipt of a notification from Rice Energy, of Canonsburg, providing a permit application to drill and operate natural gas wells with coal module attachments. The drilling sites are referred to the Goldilocks 2H and 4H wells, and they are located in Fallowfield Township.

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