Buffalo Township municipal Building

BUFFALO TWP — Supervisors voted Wednesday, Feb. 12, to purchase a vacant 1.5-acre lot on Woodhaven Drive for one dollar, for the purposes of performing municipal stormwater compliance projects.

Township manager Rich Hill says that the township will use the property to perform necessary work to perform a stream bank restoration project that will help put the township in compliance with Pennsylvania’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer requirements, referred to as MS4. The township is working on implementing a “Pollutant Reduction Plan” to prevent harmful sediment from flowing into storm drains.

“We’re going to line the stream so that the stormwater can flow down through the stream,” Hill said. “We’re required to do so many projects to improve the stormwater issues.”

According to both Hill and township solicitor Brian Farrington, the deal came about when the owners of the lot, Martin and Olivia Erdley, approached township engineer Ken Howard about transferring their property over to the township.

“Basically, the guy had a lot of dirt that he didn’t build on that was in front of his house,” Hill said. “The guy came to us and said there’s a stream there. He said he would sell us that lot for a dollar.”

“Recognition should be shown to Ken for getting this opportunity for the township,” Farrington said. “The township will be able to save a very significant sum on MS4 projects by acquiring this property. It very much helps along the township’s efforts with coming into compliance with its MS4 plan and its pollution reduction plan.”

“It's an ideal location for the township to install a stream bank restoration project,” Howard said. “It's a good find for the township and it should save (Buffalo Township) a considerable amount of money we wouldn’t have to expend in other areas.

In addition to the sale price of one dollar, the township will also have to pay for the back taxes on the property, which are estimated to be about $27,000, according to Hill.