Post by radicalron on Dec 27, 2010 22:36:39 GMT -5
republicanherald.com/news/rainbow-hose-in-wadesville-to-be-evicted-1.1081402#
by leslie Richardson (staff writer lrichardson@republicanherald.com)
As a New Castle Township fire company's 90th anniversary approaches, its members are planning a celebration. They're also planning to shutter the company's doors.
Rainbow Hose Company is being evicted from land said to be owned by Reading Anthracite. Company members said they've exhausted all options against the coal company, which started the eviction process almost 11 years ago.
According to fire company members gathered in the building's social room Wednesday, they received a letter from their attorney, Jordan Cunningham of Cunningham and Chernicoff, Harrisburg, dated Nov. 19 stating the company is required to be off the land by March 15.
"Our lawyer basically told us we are out of options. If we continue to fight, we would have to pay court costs and attorney fees and we just can't afford to continue," company President Joseph Skrobak said.
Calls placed to officials at Reading Anthracite were not returned Wednesday.
Rainbow Hose is the only fire company in New Castle Township. Volunteers cover a large area, including Arnot's Addition, Route 61 north and south to the Schuylkill Mall, Greenbury, New Street, Mount Laffee and Dark Water as well as Wadesville.
Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Martin said the department responds to between 100 and 120 emergency calls a year.
Maps, lease scrutinized
Currently, there are about 25 residents living in Wadesville, according to members. In the late 1990s, Reading Anthracite evicted residents from 45 homes and tore down the buildings in the area adjacent to the fire company so it could mine the land, according to Skrobak.
In a 1994 story published in the Republican-Herald, Frank Derrick, Reading Anthracite general manager at the time, told the Schuylkill County Commissioners there was 10.5 million tons of coal under that section of Wadesville.
In 1999, Skrobak said security personnel from Reading Anthracite posted an eviction notice on the door of the firehouse.
This action set off a string of protests including appearances before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, in 1999, correspondence between lawyers and finally, a decision by Schuylkill County Judge Jacqueline L. Russell ruling in favor of Reading Anthracite in November.
Reading Anthracite contends the building is on ground leased to the fire company back in the 1950s for $1 per year.
Fire company members said the lease was for an adjacent parking lot and that the building is on public property first owned by New Castle Township and later transferred to the fire company.
Included in the dispute is whether or not the building sits on a tract of land called East Flowery Field, which Reading Anthracite owns, or on Ellmaher tract, which it does not.
"Different maps say different things," Skrobak said. "Our minutes from 1958 say we went into an agreement with the county commissioners to raze a double block home next to our property and our 1959 minutes say Reading Anthracite stepped in and said they were part owner of that property and that is what we leased from them for $1."
Furthermore, Skrobak has a 1938 letter stating work performed by the Works Projects Administration, a federal program that employed millions of Americans to complete public works projects including construction of public buildings and roads, was completed on "publicly owned property."
"They would not have been able to build the walls and other things they did if the building was on private property," Skrobak said.
But in spite of 11 years of fighting, the fire company has to close or move to another location.
In need of funding
"The problem is we have spent so much money fighting to stay here, we can't afford to move," company Treasurer Mariann Grabish said.
Members estimate more than $30,000 was spent trying to keep fire protection in the village. That money came from fundraising and is the same money used to pay the bills and maintain the building and equipment.
Many of Wadesville's residents are elderly, and members are concerned for their safety and well-being.
"With all the arsons in the area, people are scared," Grabish said.
Frank Zangari, president of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association, said he does not believe lack of fire service is a draw for an arsonist.
"Arsonists don't walk around asking how close the nearest fire company is," Zangari said.
If the fire company would be forced to disband, the township supervisors would have to contract with other municipalities, possibly Saint Clair and Minersville, for fire protection.
"That is going to cost the taxpayers," company Secretary Grace Truscott said. "Also, homeowners insurance could go up or companies could even drop policy-holders because of lack of fire protection."
Zangari did say that with the possibility of Rainbow Hose shutting down, consolidation may be the answer.
"I truly believe in the next few years in Schuylkill County and across the state you are going to see a lot of consolidation," he said.
Zangari used Ringtown and Minersville as examples of municipalities that joined forces to make their departments stronger.
"We don't have volunteers working in our backyards anymore and it makes it tough to get volunteers," Zangari said. "But fire protection is always going to be there because our volunteers are stronger than the grass we walk on."
Zangari also said if the fire company would close, he would hope those volunteers would join neighboring communities' departments to strengthen those ranks.
Looking at locations
Members are hoping the Loftus property by the water tank on Peach Mountain might be available to house the fire company in a new building.
Skrobak said that piece of land is one that the fire company could own completely.
"So much land is either Reading Anthracite-owned or is split up between several owners," he said. "This land is owned by a brother and sister who no longer live in the area."
Members are hoping the siblings might sell the property for a reasonable price or even donate it to the fire department.
But even if the company would be able to acquire the land, members would have to come up with funds to pay for a building to house their equipment.
"We looked at pole buildings and for just the basics, it could cost about $40,000," company Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Martin said.
Members are not willing to give up their dream to provide fire protection to township residents and plan to forge ahead with an anniversary celebration.
"There are too many memories here," Fire Chief Robert Grabish said. "I've been running for 30 years with this fire company and my dad and grandfather and brothers have all come up through the ranks.
Our biggest concern is the safety of the community.
"It's like family here. We take care of each other."
by leslie Richardson (staff writer lrichardson@republicanherald.com)
As a New Castle Township fire company's 90th anniversary approaches, its members are planning a celebration. They're also planning to shutter the company's doors.
Rainbow Hose Company is being evicted from land said to be owned by Reading Anthracite. Company members said they've exhausted all options against the coal company, which started the eviction process almost 11 years ago.
According to fire company members gathered in the building's social room Wednesday, they received a letter from their attorney, Jordan Cunningham of Cunningham and Chernicoff, Harrisburg, dated Nov. 19 stating the company is required to be off the land by March 15.
"Our lawyer basically told us we are out of options. If we continue to fight, we would have to pay court costs and attorney fees and we just can't afford to continue," company President Joseph Skrobak said.
Calls placed to officials at Reading Anthracite were not returned Wednesday.
Rainbow Hose is the only fire company in New Castle Township. Volunteers cover a large area, including Arnot's Addition, Route 61 north and south to the Schuylkill Mall, Greenbury, New Street, Mount Laffee and Dark Water as well as Wadesville.
Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Martin said the department responds to between 100 and 120 emergency calls a year.
Maps, lease scrutinized
Currently, there are about 25 residents living in Wadesville, according to members. In the late 1990s, Reading Anthracite evicted residents from 45 homes and tore down the buildings in the area adjacent to the fire company so it could mine the land, according to Skrobak.
In a 1994 story published in the Republican-Herald, Frank Derrick, Reading Anthracite general manager at the time, told the Schuylkill County Commissioners there was 10.5 million tons of coal under that section of Wadesville.
In 1999, Skrobak said security personnel from Reading Anthracite posted an eviction notice on the door of the firehouse.
This action set off a string of protests including appearances before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, in 1999, correspondence between lawyers and finally, a decision by Schuylkill County Judge Jacqueline L. Russell ruling in favor of Reading Anthracite in November.
Reading Anthracite contends the building is on ground leased to the fire company back in the 1950s for $1 per year.
Fire company members said the lease was for an adjacent parking lot and that the building is on public property first owned by New Castle Township and later transferred to the fire company.
Included in the dispute is whether or not the building sits on a tract of land called East Flowery Field, which Reading Anthracite owns, or on Ellmaher tract, which it does not.
"Different maps say different things," Skrobak said. "Our minutes from 1958 say we went into an agreement with the county commissioners to raze a double block home next to our property and our 1959 minutes say Reading Anthracite stepped in and said they were part owner of that property and that is what we leased from them for $1."
Furthermore, Skrobak has a 1938 letter stating work performed by the Works Projects Administration, a federal program that employed millions of Americans to complete public works projects including construction of public buildings and roads, was completed on "publicly owned property."
"They would not have been able to build the walls and other things they did if the building was on private property," Skrobak said.
But in spite of 11 years of fighting, the fire company has to close or move to another location.
In need of funding
"The problem is we have spent so much money fighting to stay here, we can't afford to move," company Treasurer Mariann Grabish said.
Members estimate more than $30,000 was spent trying to keep fire protection in the village. That money came from fundraising and is the same money used to pay the bills and maintain the building and equipment.
Many of Wadesville's residents are elderly, and members are concerned for their safety and well-being.
"With all the arsons in the area, people are scared," Grabish said.
Frank Zangari, president of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association, said he does not believe lack of fire service is a draw for an arsonist.
"Arsonists don't walk around asking how close the nearest fire company is," Zangari said.
If the fire company would be forced to disband, the township supervisors would have to contract with other municipalities, possibly Saint Clair and Minersville, for fire protection.
"That is going to cost the taxpayers," company Secretary Grace Truscott said. "Also, homeowners insurance could go up or companies could even drop policy-holders because of lack of fire protection."
Zangari did say that with the possibility of Rainbow Hose shutting down, consolidation may be the answer.
"I truly believe in the next few years in Schuylkill County and across the state you are going to see a lot of consolidation," he said.
Zangari used Ringtown and Minersville as examples of municipalities that joined forces to make their departments stronger.
"We don't have volunteers working in our backyards anymore and it makes it tough to get volunteers," Zangari said. "But fire protection is always going to be there because our volunteers are stronger than the grass we walk on."
Zangari also said if the fire company would close, he would hope those volunteers would join neighboring communities' departments to strengthen those ranks.
Looking at locations
Members are hoping the Loftus property by the water tank on Peach Mountain might be available to house the fire company in a new building.
Skrobak said that piece of land is one that the fire company could own completely.
"So much land is either Reading Anthracite-owned or is split up between several owners," he said. "This land is owned by a brother and sister who no longer live in the area."
Members are hoping the siblings might sell the property for a reasonable price or even donate it to the fire department.
But even if the company would be able to acquire the land, members would have to come up with funds to pay for a building to house their equipment.
"We looked at pole buildings and for just the basics, it could cost about $40,000," company Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Martin said.
Members are not willing to give up their dream to provide fire protection to township residents and plan to forge ahead with an anniversary celebration.
"There are too many memories here," Fire Chief Robert Grabish said. "I've been running for 30 years with this fire company and my dad and grandfather and brothers have all come up through the ranks.
Our biggest concern is the safety of the community.
"It's like family here. We take care of each other."