Jackson Township Supervisors meet with Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge!

 

 

Jackson Township Supervisors John J Wilkes Jr and Tim Evans had the opportunity to meet and speak with Former Homeland Security Secretary and two term Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. The Supervisors discussed Homeland Security and how Jackson Township can be better prepared and identify Security precautions on a Local Level with Secretary Ridge.

 

Shown: Left to Right

 

Supervisor Chairman John J Wilkes Jr, Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Supervisor Tim Evans

Bryce Wilkes is starting Early following in his Favorite Uncles Footsteps when he stopped to visit the Jackson Township Municipal Building where he showed his uncle John Jay Wilkes Jr that he could also be Chairman of the Board of Supervisors someday in the future!

The Jackson Township Board of Supervisors received a Grant for improvements to Steele Road  a Mutually shared Roadway in Jackson Township and Larksville Borough from the Pennsylvania Dirt and Gravel Roads Program administered by the Luzerne Conservation District and  Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportations Dirt and Gravel Roads Program.

 

The purpose of the program is to improve the Storm Water discharge and Erosion from Dirt and Gravel Roads to Waterways in the Commonwealth.

 

The project is being done by the Jackson Township Road Department, Larksville Borough Street Department , B&J Paving Contractors of Shavertown and The Luzerne Conservation District with all Road Materials being provided by Pikes Creek Sand and Gravel under the Pennsylvania  State Cooperative Purchasing Program .

 

 Shown (From Left to Right)

 

Dale May , B&J Paving Contractors, John Jay Wilkes Jr, Jackson Township Supervisor,  Joe Janosky of B&J Paving Contractors ,Amy Salansky , Chesapeake Bay Technician for the Luzerne Conservation District, Shawn Rybka, Dirt and Gravel Road Grant Coordinator for the Luzerne Conservation District and Bill Janosky, of B&J Paving Contractors

The Luzerne County Association of Township Officials held its annual Convention on Thursday August 21,2008 at the Checkerboard Pavilion in Kingston Township.

 

Guest speaker Cory Adams legal Annalist for the Pennsylvania State Association of Supervisors (PSATS) spoke about upcoming legal issues and updated the new laws that effect Townships to the over 150 Township Supervisors, Township Managers, Secretaries and Township Employees in Attendance along with 25 Vendors of Municipal Services and Products.

 

Other Guest speakers included Kenny Grimes the President of PSATS, State Representative Karen Boback, Senator Lisa Bakers Chief of Staff Brian Grove, Hazelton Mayor Louis Barletta, Luzerne County Commissioner Steve Urban and representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Municipal Services the Department of Environmental Protection and the Luzerne Conservation District.

 

Election of Officers where also held with the following :
 

President Michael Prokopchak,Franklin Township

First Vice President Paul Sabol,Kingston Township

Second Vice President John Jay Wilkes Jr ,Jackson Township

Treasurer Ransom Young,Butler Township

Secretary Judy Boudman,Salem Township

 

Pictured (Left to Right)

Ransom Young ,Paul Sabol First Vice President, William Hawk Executive Board Member PSATS,Kenny Grimes PSATS President, John Jay Wilkes Jr, Second Vice President, Michael Prokopchak President ,Judy Boudman, Secretary and State Representative Karen Boback

The Jackson Township Supervisors recently presented a plaque to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections SCI-Dallas for all there assistance and there Community Work Program for there commitment to Jackson Township.

 

Shown (Left to Right)

 

SCI-Dallas Superintendent James Wynder, Jackson Township Supervisor Chairman John J Wilkes Jr and Community Work Program Labor Forman Carl Alber.

The Jackson Township Board of Supervisors will be conducting a Recycling Drop Off for Waste Oil and Antifreeze to  protect the environment on Tuesday May 6,2008 and Tuesday May 20,2008 from 8 am until 6pm at the Jackson Township Municipal Building Recycling Drop Off Location.

 

They will also be Recycling used Tractor and Automotive Batteries starting on Tuesday May 6 ,2008 until Friday May 23 ,2008 at the Drop Off Location at the Municipal Building.

 

This Recycling event in proudly being sponsored by the Jackson Township Board of Supervisors and  Hazelton Oil &Environmental (Our Recycling Partner)

 

Pictured at the Drop Off Location ( from Left to Right)

 

Jackson Township Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer Andy Sholtis,Jackson Township Secretary Denise Rittinger, Jackson Township Recycling Coordinator/Attendant Bert Balliet, Jackson Township Supervisor Chairman John (Jay) Wilkes Jr, and Rose Kelly of Hazelton Oil and Environmental

The Jackson Township Board of Supervisors has received the 2007 Conservation Leadership Award from the Luzerne Conservation District at there annual banquet on March 29,2008 for the Boards continued support to the Conservation District and ongoing Conservation practices with environmental projects in Jackson Township.

 

Shown from Left to Right: Josh Longmore,Director of the Luzerne Conservation District presented the award to Jackson Township Supervisor Chairman John J Wilkes Jr at the Conservation Districts Banquet. Supervisor Wilkes also began serving in February 2008 as a Associate Director for the Luzerne Conservation District.

Bert Balliet from the Recycling/Building and Grounds Department says this is what his days are like during the summer.

Frosty the Snow Man was spotted in Jackson Twp by Zoning Officer Andy Sholtis with his wife Joan and Granddaughter Cienna this Winter. 

Happy Birthday Asst Roadmaster Hardy Spencer from all of us at Jackson Township.

Asst Roadmaster Hardy Spencer at the Surprise Birthday party that was held for him at the Township Garage.

 (Left to Right ) Recycling Attendendent Bert Balliet and  Asst Roadmaster Hardy Spencer

Jackson Township Supervisor John (Jay) Wilkes Jr. was sworn in for a third term as a Supervisor of Jackson Township at the January reorganization of the Board of Supervisors by District Justice James Tupper. with Wilkes Family, Friends and colleagues on hand at the ceremony at the Township Building. Wilkes was also elected by the Board of Supervisors to serve as Board Chairman for 2008 at the meeting.

 

Shown (Left to Right)

 

District Justice James Tupper Administering Oath to Supervisor John (Jay) Wilkes Jr. with  his Daughter Jamie Wilkes and Wife Debbie Wilkes in Attendance. 

Supervisor John J Wilkes Jr. and his family had the opportunity of a life time to listen too  and discuss Space flight and time spent in space and the preparations and training how to get there on a recent visit to the Kennedy Space Center when then meet with Space Shuttle Astronaut Dr John Fabian where the Wilkes Family learned first hand how difficult the intense training is for Space Shuttle Astronauts and how rewarding it is to be chosen by NASA to be part of a Shuttle mission to Space.

 Pictured : (From Left to Right)

 Supervisor John J Wilkes Jr., Astronaut Dr John Fabian, Jamie Wilkes and Debbie Wilkes at the Kennedy Space Center.

Caption: Congratulations Police Officer and Mrs. Carl Puskar from all of us at Jackson Township

The Jackson Township Board of Supervisors has received a Dirt and Gravel Improvement Grant and a Growing Greener Grant to install replacement pipes and to stabilize the Road surface and shoulders on Shouldice Road to reduce the amount of soil discharge into a contributory stream of Harvey's Creek.

 

This Grant was obtained in conjunction with the Luzerne Conservation District and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and is being completed by the Jackson Township Road Department and B&J Paving Contractors of Shavertown with materials being purchased under the Pa-Costars Cooperative purchasing program with Pikes Creek Asphalt and Stone in Lehman Township.

 

Shown from Left to Right:

 

Jackson Township Supervisor Chairman John (Jay) Wilkes Jr,Shawn Rybka Dirt and Gravel Road Grant Coordinator for the Luzerne Conservation District with Joe and Bill Janosky Owners and Operators of B&J Paving Contractors and Bob Montross in the Backhoe of B&J Paving Contractors.

 

This picture of a Black Fisher was taken and sent to us by a resident that was attending a soccer practice in late September 2007 at the Jackson Township Recreation Fields in the rear of the Municipal Building.

The Jackson  Township Board of Supervisors recently purchased a new Loader/Backhoe through the Pennsylvania

Co-Stars Government Cooperative purchasing program and the Case Municipal Purchasing Program with Medico Industries the Authorized Case Dealer in Wilkes-Barre.

Pictured from Left to Right

Jackson Township Employees Bert Balliet and Assistant Roadmaster Hardy Spencer, Thomas Medico,President

of Medico Industries presenting the keys to Jackson Township Supervisor Chairman/Roadmaster John "Jay" Wilkes Jr

and Supervisor David Roskos and Joe Wysokinski,Territory Sales Manager From Medico Industries.

 

The Jackson Township Board of supervisors presented a Retirement Plaque to Police Office Donald Gavigan

for his many years of dedicated service to Jackson Township.

Pictured from left to right:  Jackson Township Police Chief Jerry Leedock,

Jackson Township Supervisor Chairman John J Wilkes Jr, Officer Donald Gavigan and Ann Maria Gavigan.

The Jackson Township Board of Supervisors recently presented a new 2007 Police patrol vehicle to the police department .

L to R: Jackson Township Supervisor Al Fox, Supervisor Chairman John J Wilkes Jr, Police Chief Jerry Leedock & Supervisor David Roskos

MAY 18,2006 AT 11:15 AM PARKS DIRECTOR BERT BALLIET SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE LAWNMOWER HE WAS USING TO MOW GRASS AT THE TOWNSHIPS SALT STORAGE FACILITY ON HERITAGE DRIVE . HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE THAT WAS BEING FUELED BY GASOLINE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTAIN THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE WAS ASSISTED BY ROADMASTER  J WILKES  WHO ARRIVED ON THE SCENE . AFTER USING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WILKES AND BALLIET HAD THE FIRE OUT WHEN THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED ON SCENE.

THERE WHERE NO INJURIES AND THE MOWER WAS A TOTAL LOSS!

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.KNEELING ROAD J WILKES ,

ASST ROADMASTER HARDY SPENCER, ROADWORKER TIM BERNICK, SEATED ON MOWER PARKS DIRECTOR BERT BALLIET AND STANDING POLICE CHIEF JERRY LEEDOCK.