Lower Paxton official receives state award

Gazette congrats go out to Bill Hawk, chairman of the Lower Paxton Twp. Board of Supervisors, for being among a select group of local government officials awarded the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence earlier this month. (Patriot-News article)

I learned about Hawk’s honor while chatting with him about happenings at a recent statewide gathering of township officials that was held in Hershey. He identified three key points of discussion during the four-day conference:

– A top Rendell administration official made a pitch for consolidation of municipal governments, an idea that few local officials support.

– The need for state and federal aid to help townships repair roads and bridges. Federal stimulus money is on the way, but Hawk did not know how big a slice of a $30 million pie is earmarked for Lower Paxton.

– Gov. Eddie Rendell’s proposed 1-percent county sales tax that would be used in part to lower county and township property tax bills. Hawk was quoted in a Patriot-News article about the tax.

Hawk is seeking re-election to his township post this election cycle.