(11/2019) Liberty looks to amend zoning ordinance

Liberty Township’s Board of Supervisors will be considering an amendment to the township’s Campground Ordinance during a public meeting held on November 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The proposed amendment, if accepted, will eliminate the definitions for Camper, Campsite, Tent and Department and revise the definitions for Campground and Camping Unit. The new definition of campground states that: "one or more campsites are located, established, or maintained for regular occupancy by camping units as temporary living quarters for recreation, education, or vacation purposes. The campground may be an organized camp that includes a combination of programs and facilities established for the primary purpose of providing an outdoor living experience for children, youth, and adults with social, recreational, and educational objectives and operated and used for five or more consecutive days during one or more seasons a year. There must be a named individual who has responsibility for the campground." A camping unit is defined as a tent, trailer, lean-to or recreation vehicle established or maintained as temporary living quarters for recreation, education, or vacation purposes.

The second amendment states, in short, that no camping permit is required if the camping is by family members or guests for three nights or less. There are additional permit requirements, plus requirements for waste and sewage disposal and noise. A list of criteria outlines setbacks, roads, maintenance, sanitation and garbage collection, signs, lighting requirements etc.

If approved and enacted, a public hearing will be held on November 19 at 11 a.m. regarding an amendment to the township’s Zoning Ordinance specifically pertaining to campgrounds. The above amendments would be included/added into the township’s zoning ordinance. All are welcome to attend and offer feedback.

Fairfield Fire Department’s Open House a success

Undeterred by rainy weather earlier in the day, dozens of community members from Fairfield and surrounding areas gathered at the Fairfield Fire Department on the afternoon of October 27 to meet local firefighters and EMTs and to learn about fire safety. The Open House was also a call for fire and emergency volunteers.

Fairfield Fire Chief Bill Jacobs said, "The Open House is for families to come and see what we do. They can explore the equipment we use and the kids can take a ride on the fire trucks and EMT vehicles." Chief Jacobs also said that the fire department in Fairfield is an all-volunteer station with ten active firefighters that provide fire protection and medical services for the local communities. In addition, there are about twenty volunteer support staff that help with the department’s website, fundraising, and community outreach. "Unlike surrounding states," Jacobs added, "we don’t get much funding from the state to pay for fire and medical emergency personnel and equipment. We rely heavily on community support."

Those attending the Open House were able to see the station’s firefighting equipment and learn how the volunteer firefighters keep the community safe. And the most popular activity at the Fairfield Fire Department’s Open House was, without doubt, getting to take a ride in the EMT and fire trucks, sirens sounding and lights flashing. Thank you to all those who attended the open house this year!