At its last meeting of the year on Dec. 15, the Harrison Township Committee discussed the effects of a snowstorm the day before and the issue of illegal vechicle crossings.
The storm meant firefighters dealt with car accidents and power issues, among other calls.
“Yesterday we had a pretty busy day because of the storm,” said Deputy Mayor Lawrence Moore, who is also a volunteer firefighter. “A couple fires and lot of accidents, folks on the road, and power line issues. But aside from that, things are going pretty smoothly over there (at the fire department).”
The understaffed public works department had to deal with its share of frozen roads. According to township Administrator Dennis Chambers, it took workers about seven-and-a-half hours to clear them.
“It was an interesting storm,” he noted. “Things have been slipping and sliding around. We’re working through now, trying to get new trucks built that we have ordered. We’ve got the trucks in now; we’re waiting for some spreaders.”
The committee spent part of its session discussing how to deal with illegal vehicle crossings between Harvest Mill Way – behind the Wawa on Mullica Hill Road – and Leonard Lane. There is a small grass field separating the two roadways, which are classified as cul-de-sacs, but no road, dirt or concrete connecting them.
“Several years ago, when this development was approved and we heard the application,” explained Chambers, “several residents from the existing Brookside at Harrison expressed concerns about a through road on Harvest Mill Way, connecting all three developments.
“The consensus was that this through road – which would run all the way down to Barnsboro Road – would be a secondary means of circumventing backups of traffic. The developer agreed … to make two cul-de-sacs.”
The township was first tipped off about the illegal vehicle crossings by video and resident complaints. One resident suggested putting up a no outlet sign, but the committee decided that would only be a temporary solution. Members decided to talk again about more permanent solutions – including a barrier – to deter the crossings.
The next committee session will be a reorganization meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, at the Harrison Township municipal building.
