New Hanover Township lost its YMCA branch in June 2017, but a local developer has ideas for bringing it back to life.

            The New Hanover Board of Supervisors heard an enthusiastic presentation about plans for the YMCA and adjacent property by Bob Carlson, a developer and township resident at their regular meeting on Thursday, February 7.

            Citing the lack of a community center for all ages in the township, Carlson stated that he and his team had developed a financial plan for the tract. He also pledged that he would do something the YMCA neglected to do - he would bring the public sewer to the building if he buys it.

            Carlson showed several potential plans for the property, which include a baseball and softball center and fields; soccer fields; tennis courts; and an indoor ice rink in addition to the existing YMCA building. He said that he has already created a not-for-profit to enable him to apply for grants, but envisions at least some of the operation to be for-profit.

            Board chair Chuck Garner stated that Carlson's next step would be to meet with the township's recreation committee.

            In traffic engineering news, the township will be receiving a grant for $125,394 from the PennDOT multimodal transportation fund for the "widening of [state route 73] to provide a separate eastbound left-turn lane along with minor re-profiling of a vertical curve to improve sight distance, as well as the installation of a traffic control signal at Route 663 and Route 73."  A press conference is planned for March 3 at noon.

            In other news, the supervisors approved bidding $35,000 on a televising truck for the Municipal Authority. They also approved budgeted purchases of police vehicle cameras ($24,358); a John Deere lawn mower ($10,424); road mower replacements ($1890); a Belmont landscape trailer ($2155); and a Mack tandem heavy-duty dump truck ($216,000). They did not approve purchase of a Ford F-550 light duty dump truck for the Public Works Department.

            In personnel news, the supervisors approved a resolution to honorably discharge a police officer and to terminate payments under the Heart and Lung Act.

            The supervisors also approved a rise in the township manager's compensation from $108,000 to $113,000 per year.

            During the work session, the supervisors and audience heard a presentation by supervisor Ross Snook on a storm water plan data sheet for developers.

            The supervisors met in executive session prior to the meeting to discuss personnel matters and after the meeting for real estate.