Eldred Township News

Eldred Township is a Township of the Second Class located in Monroe County. Local government services are provided to an area of 24.5 square miles and a population of 2,665. There are 34 miles of Township roads and 20.7 miles of state roads in Eldred. Sources of funding include monies received from taxes. Municipal building office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the first and third Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

The Eldred Township Municipal Building was dedicated on July 10, 1994.

Eldred Township was established in 1851. Prior to that time the area that is now Eldred Township was a part of Ross Township.

The Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company was chartered in 1952.

2012 Budget and Fiscal Plan:
The 2012 Eldred Township Budget Meeting was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2011 at 10:00 am. in the Eldred Township Municipal Building.
    Click here to view the budget, which is always available for inspection by any township resident. It was signed into effect at the December 15th Board of Supervisor's meeting.

The Walter W. Mock Park:
The township has recently acquired 54 acres from Jacqueline Mock, in memory of her beloved husband, Walter Mock. Most of the park will remain preserved as open space, for simple walking trails, but there is active planning of a fun playground and small ball park and pavilion for family play. The township park is located in the central portion of the township between Church Road and Fiddletown Road. The site primarily contains an existing farm field with adjacent woodlands. A portion of the property contains a natural riparian corridor along Princess Run. The Princess Run supports natural reproduction of wild trout, and as such is highly regarded by local anglers.

The Appalachian Trail

The “A.T.,” as it's called by hikers, is much more than just a path through the woods. It is a national scenic trail, part of the same national park system that includes Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Its official name is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. But, unlike those famous parks, it's not a concentrated preserve, with campgrounds and paths within its boundaries. As the longest, skinniest part of America's national park system, the A.T. stretches over 14 different states and passes through more than 60 federal, state, and local parks and forests. Hundreds of roads cross it. In some parts, the Trail “corridor” is only a few hundred feet wide. Overall, the trail is 2,181 miles long, running from Georgia to Maine.

In Pennsylvania, the Appalachian Trail follows the ridges of mountains east of the Alleghenies to the Susquehanna River in a long section of Trail notorious for its foot-bruising, boot-destroying rocks. The Trail north of the Susquehanna is characterized by long, flat, rocky ridges broken by fairly strenuous climbs in and out of gaps. About ten miles south of the Susquehanna River, the Trail crosses the Great Valley of the Appalachians to the Blue Ridge. This southern portion of the Trail through Pennsylvania has many sections that are gentle, and grades are easy, making it one of the easiest sections of the Trail. Overall, there are 229.6 trail miles in the state, with elevations ranging from 320 to 2,080 feet. The trail runs along the southern border of Eldred Township.

Hunting and the A.T.

Please be aware that hunting regulations vary widely along the Appalachian Trail. Although the A.T. is a unit of the National Park system, it traverses many different types of public lands—including parks, forests, refuges, and game lands.

Hunting—with the proper state licenses—is PERMITTED along approximately 1,250 miles of the Appalachian Trail through national forest lands, national recreation areas, and on state forests and game lands. Although a concerted effort is made to identify land types on official A.T. maps, it is seldom easy while on the footpath in several states to determine which jurisdiction you are walking through, except at boundary signs. Both hikers and hunters are advised to “know before you go.”

Hunting is PROHIBITED along approximately 900 miles of the Trail through national parks (like Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains), most state parks, and on lands acquired by the National Park Service (NPS) exclusively for the Appalachian Trail and still under NPS administration—indicated on the outside edges by A.T. corridor boundary signs. Hikers should be aware that the protected corridor is often narrow, averaging about 1,000 feet wide.

Even in areas where hunting is prohibited, hunters on adjacent lands may not know that they are near the Trail. Hunters may inadvertently cross onto Trail lands or unknowingly fire toward the Trail.

Hunting has been a traditional use of the land along many sections of the Trail, both on public and adjacent private lands. Hunting and fishing groups are among the biggest supporters of the protection of public lands. Because of this shared usage, both hikers and hunters have a responsibility to take precautions to minimize conflict, and to cooperate with and educate each other regarding this valuable natural resource. By doing so, we can all continue to enjoy our traditions and adventures for generations to come.


The Joint Comprehensive Plan for the CJER Region:
In 1968, the Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 247, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. This was the legislation that enabled local governments to develop Comprehensive Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances, and Official Maps.
In 2000, Pennsylvania adopted amendments to the Municipalities Planning Code, specifically Acts 67 and 68, known as “Smart Growth” legislation. This new legislation allows municipalities to work together to plan regionally across municipal borders using “smart growth principles” and specifically enabled the creation of joint municipal Comprehensive Plans. A Joint Comprehensive Plan can address both development and preservation issues with the flexibility of allocating land uses over the entire planning area, rather than the traditional method of providing for all land uses within each municipality.
A Joint Comprehensive Plan is more than just a plan for development. The Plan is a means granted to local governments by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by which participating communities may work together to create a vision of what they want to become and how they intend to achieve that vision. Surrounding communities are changing as well. This Joint Comprehensive Plan will help to anticipate change, to identify community goals, and to examine local resources. It will provide the guidance that allows a higher degree of control in how change occurs in the CJER Region.
The CJER Region encompasses Chestnuthill, Jackson, Eldred and Ross Townships.

The CJER Plan

2010 Census
The U.S. Census Bureau is currently verifying data; and they urge all local residents to cooperate.

While the data collection phase of the 2010 Census has wrapped up, the U.S. Census Bureau is now performing systematic quality checks of census takers’ work. This phase of the operation includes visitations, phone interviews, and address verifications.

During these quality checks, officials will verify the questions that
appeared on the Census form either in person or by phone. Visitors and callers will not ask for personal information, such as Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.

For more information about the 2010 Census, townships and their residents may log onto www.2010census.gov or call the U.S. Census Bureau toll-free at (866) 872-6868.

Eldred Township Halloween Parade
The Eldred Township Halloween Parade is an annual event held on the third Sunday of October and free to all participants. The parade route begins at the St. Matthew’s UCC Church grove in Kunkletown and ends at the Kunkletown Volunteer Firehouse where a complementary lunch and treat bag is provided for all parade participants. Pre-registration forms for interested participants are available at the Eldred Township Municipal building, Amy’s Country Store and the Kunkletown General Store.
The Eldred Township Halloween Parade is organized by a small committee of volunteers and sponsored by donations from private citizens and various local businesses. Persons interested in assisting in any way are welcome and should contact Linda Kile in care of Eldred Township.


ONGOING EVENTS:
Breakfast at the Fire House:
The first Sunday of every month, from 7:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Bingo at the Fire House:
Every Monday night: doors open at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and the game begins at 7:00 p.m.