Lower Paxton watchdog, 12.17.08

Headlines from Tuesday night’s business meeting conducted by the Lower Paxton Twp. Board of Supervisors …

* The 2009 general operating budget of just over $18 million that retains the current property tax rate was unanimously approved. Board Chairman Bill Hawk praised the township's administrative staff for making the necessary cuts to stave off a tax hike.

A proposed fee for township-based youth sports groups to reserve space in parks for practices and games was cut from the final version of the budget. The supervisors most likely will revisit the issue next year, said township manager George Wolfe.

* Megan Stine, a lifeguard at Friendship Center, was honored for saving the life of a youngster who nearly drowned in the center’s indoor pool.

* In an item related to the Linglestown improvement project, an agreement with a price tag of over $68,000 was approved for the project’s engineering firm, Arora and Associates, P.C., to do work related to condemnation of properties.