During February 17-20, 2012, take part in a family-friendly, educational activity that is lots of fun, costs nothing and helps your local birds! Each year tens of thousands of people throughout the U.S. and Canada take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Participants count in their own backyards, out of their office windows, at local parks, at nature centers and anywhere else! You can spend as little as 15 minutes counting birds, or even make a whole weekend of it. Click here to see a brochure, or visit the website linked above. Have fun with this family oriented activity!

Brochure link

Snow Removal:Please park vehicles off the streets during a winter storm to allow for safe and efficient removal of snow from curb to curb. Also remove trash cans and sports equipment from the roadway. To avoid being plowed in, shovel snow to the right of your driveway (as you are facing the road). It is unlawful to throw, shovel or plow snow into any roadways within the township from adjoining property. Listen to WNPV 1440 for declared snow emergencies. Whenever the Township declares a highway snow emergency, all parking upon the streets or highways of the township is prohibited.

Plowing Specifics: During a storm, high priority is given to major roads in the Township to make it safer for emergency vehicles and school buses. After that is accomplished, snow removal crews plow the other residential roads beginning with connecting streets. Cul-de-sacs are the last areas to be cleared due to low traffic volume. It takes approximately 10-11 hours for all the roads to be plowed during a normal 3” to 6” snowstorm. Help out the Fire Department by digging out the snow by the fire hydrant near your home. A few extra minutes then, can save valuable time in the case of a fire.

Sidewalk Snow Removal: Township Code requires that property owners clear their sidewalks within 10 hours of the end of a snowfall. If snow falls after 6:00 p.m., you have until 11:00 a.m. the next day to salt and shovel.

Township Trail System: The Township Trail System is maintained for recreational purposes only. Therefore, the Township Public Works Department does not remove the snow from the trails during the winter.

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF REMINDERS

Bergey Mill Farm - 675 Bergey Mill Road, located on the East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek, depicted life and Christmas in the 19th century. The two-bedroom home is where David K. Bergey and Amanda Wagner Bergey raised 13 children. Click here for photos.

Heckler Plains Farmhouse - 237 Landis Road, was furnished and decorated in 18th century style. On display was the feather tree and the newly-furnished bedroom, a project undertaken by the Oak Lore Questers. Click here for photos

The Reiff Farmhouse, 775 Quarry Road, is a fine example of a transition house, as some parts date to the 18th & 19th Centuries. It is the home of the historic Jacob Reiff homestead and barn situated on 73 acres. The home features a wall cabinet, large cooking fireplace and circular stairs and displays many of the Township's historical artifacts, including the Reiff family Bible. Click here for photos

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has advised Lower Salford Township that its interpretation of the Pennsylvania Recycling Act 101 regulations does not permit the open burning of any yard waste. This supercedes the previous Township policy which permitted the open burning of small twigs/shrub trimmings at designated times upon obtaining a permit to do so. The option now is to cut the twigs to a small size and to place such twigs and/or shrub trimmings in a biodegradable paper bag which can be deposited in the large metal container at the Township Building Parking Lot. The open burning of any recyclables or household trash has been, and continues to be, prohibited by the Township.

The only exceptions to the revised open burning policy are outdoor cooking, ceremonial bonfires or campfires, and burning related to the production of agriculture commodities on a farm operation. The latter two options require pre-notification to the Fire Marshal.

On January 1, 2009, Act 3 of 2008 took effect across Pennsylvania. Act 3 of 2008 concerns procedures for responding to public requests for Township records. In coordination with Act 3, the Township has also appointed two Open Records Officers. These Officers will be Township Manager J. Delton Plank for the Administrative Offices and Chief Thomas Medwid for the Police Department. To review the new Regulations and Policies, please click on the link below. We have also attached the "Right-to-Know Request Form" which needs to be completed when requesting records from the Township. If you have questions regarding this new Act, please contact Township Manager Plank at: 215-256-8087 during regular business hours.

Open Records Requests Administrative Regulations and Policies

Right-to-Know Request Form

Even though the Township sees fewer building permits as we enter the winter season, it is still very important to make every effort to call the Township in advance to make inspection appointments. All projects that require a permit (see the Building and Zoning Page) will also require certain inspections. Inspections are only done on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All inspections need to be scheduled in advance. For Commercial Inspections, please call at least 48 Hours in advance to reserve a time. The Building and Zoning Department recommends that you call at least 24-48 hours in advance to schedule the necessary inspections for your project. We can schedule as far out as needed. To schedule an inspection, please call 215-256-8087 during regular business hours of 8:30-4:30 Monday - Friday. PLEASE HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION READY BEFORE YOU CALL: PERMIT NUMBER AND STREET ADDRESS. Your cooperation is appreciated!

INSPECTIONS MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS ONLY

On January 1, 2011, Lower Salford Township instituted a new policy for scheduling of inspections due to manpower reductions in the Building/Code Enforcement Office.

Rob Reilley, Director of Building and Zoning, will be performing all Township building inspections, plan reviews and code enforcement duties. Building and code enforcement inspections will be performed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Plan reviews and administrative office duties will be performed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This will also include time set aside for appointments to discuss building and zoning issues. On these days, appointments will be taken for afternoon time slots from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Questions in regard to the new scheduling should be directed to Rob Reilley by calling the Township Office at 215-256-8087.

The Township has received information from PPL Electric that they plan to replace an existing 8-mile transmission line originally installed in 1928. This upgrade will effect the existing line that runs through Salford, Franconia, Lower Salford and Towamencin Townships. The line will be constructed along the same route, using current rights-of-way. This project is expected to begin in 2013. To learn more, please click the link below. For inquiries about the project, please contact Kathy Frazier, PPL's Regional Community Relations Director: 610-774-3372

FACT SHEET: TRANSMISSION LINE UPGRADE PROJECT

Opening Day at the Lederach Golf Club was April 8, 2006. For more detailed information regarding everything you may want to know, please visit the Lederach Golf Club website at: www.lederachgolfclub.com. The Lederach Golf Club website has information on discounts for Lower Salford Township residents and also a "Rewards Card" that you can register for online. The website will also help you sign-up for a tee time, get information on rates, lessons and upcoming events. You can also find the "technical" information about the course and learn about the architect that designed the course. Visit the website today!! It's only a click away:

www.lederachgolfclub.com

If you would prefer to contact the Lederach Golf Club directly, their general phone number is 215-513-3034

We invite you to join Lederach as an Annual Pass Holder. The Pass Holder Program is an unbeatable value for those who love the game of golf! Sign up NOW for 2012, and play the rest of the 2011 Season for FREE!!!!! For questions regarding the pass programs, please contact Lederach Golf Club at

215-513-3034.

The Environmental Protection Agency has made available the Administrative Record Files of all the Superfund sites. By providing the public with greater access to these records, the EPA hopes it will be better equipped to comment constructively on site activities and to understand the issues relating to the selection of the response action at each site. Please click the above link to access the website. The administrative Site Name is "Salford Quarry"  and the AR Type is "Removal2-NONE". Then choose "Search Results" to view Administrative Record Files for the Quarry.

If you have specific questions regarding the status of the Salford Quarry, please contact Community Involvement Coordinator Vance Evans of the EPA at: 1-800-553-2509 or 215-814-5526.

A few years ago, the Township acquired permits from Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (www.fish.state.pa.us) to stock triploid grass carp in Briarwyck Pond, Kulp Road Pond, Alderfer Road Pond, the Township Building pond and two ponds at Lederach Golf Club. The grass carp, or "White Amur", is a large member of the minnow family native to the lower Amur River, which flows through Siberia and rivers in the Republic of China and are released into waterways as a means of biological aquatic vegetation control. Maximum aquatic vegetation consumption will occur during late spring through summer at water temperatures ranging from 68 to 90 degrees F. They are sterile and will not reproduce and feed only on plants, not on fish eggs or young fishes. The fish are difficult to catch with conventional fishing methods, but if that would happen, please release the carp back into the pond as quickly as possible to give the fish the best chance for survival. For more information about Triploid Grass Carp, and to see a picture of what one looks like, please click on the link below. This information is also available at the Township Office.

Triploid Grass Carp Picture & Information