Goodwill Fire Company, Germansville, volunteer firefighter Randy Metzger recently told Heidelberg supervisors the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors wants to discuss tax breaks for fire company volunteers.

The tax break would be for volunteers only, Metzger said at the March 16 meeting, not for paid personnel of either the fire company or ambulance corps.

At least one public meeting would be mandatory.

The 20 percent discount would only be on real estate and income tax, not on school taxes.

Supervisor David Fink said the issue may be on the annual PSATS convention agenda.

Metzger said the fire company answered two medical calls during the recent snowstorm and Fire Chief Jay Scheffler wanted to thank the road crew.

He said Roadmaster Kevin Huber helped him out of a snowbank.

The fire company assisted Kempton March 15 with a rescue on the Appalachian Trail. The person was three-tenths of a mile in from the road.

Kempton firefighters were happy when Germansville arrived with its equipment making it easier to move the person. Metzger said it was lucky the man’s phone worked, as much of the area where he was does not have phone service.

Three firefighters have completed an emergency medical responder class.

A HazMat refresher course is being scheduled. There are a larger number of HazMat incidents than previously.

Mark Smith, representing Northern Valley Ambulance Corps, said the road crew had roads cleared before the ambulance reached an emergency site.

There were 32 calls in Heidelberg in February with a response time of 7.9 minutes.

In other matters, Supervisor Jonathan Jakum said the tax bills have been prepared and will be sent out shortly.

He gave two prices for the heating and cooling system: $15,232 and $20,000. The township will go with the higher price.

The gas system will be healthier for the employees, said Administrator Janice Meyers.

Supervisor Steve Bachman gave the parks and recreation report.

A new 3-year contract for the fireworks has been approved for the annual August Night in the Country celebration.

Bachman said the major item discussed during the meeting was revised bylaws and the major point of discussion was whether or not the Northwestern Youth Athletic Association should have a seat on the recreation commission.

Bachman said he was for it. The problem raised by others was that there should not be an even number of members on the commission.

Bachman said Lowhill has not sent a representative in years and that would mean it would not be an even number, though without Lowhill they have been working with an eight-member commission for years. The NYAA is the strongest partner the commission has. Each township representative was to discuss it at a supervisors’ meeting and bring back the ideas.

Permission for crosswalks on Northwest Road has been received after years of contact with Harrisburg. However, the state will not pay the $3,000 cost for crosswalk markings and signage.

Engineer Chris Noll has been looking at locations for the crosswalks and said the best places are not the required 300 feet apart. He will try to obtain permission for them to be closer.

Huber reported the road crew has been tree trimming and grading dirt roads.

“The equipment held up well during the storm,” he said.