CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Supervisors Thursday talked about possibly building a new fire station and considered establishing zoning in the township.

Supervisor Stephen Misko said the proposed fire station along Route 68 would become the new township building, in addition to housing a four-bay garage. One of those bays would be used for an ambulance.

"Most of our major accidents are on (Route) 68," said Misko.

Butler Ambulance Service, operating out of Greenwood, is nearest to the township from the east. The ambulance from Harmony services the west side of the township.

The building could, according to Misko, be funded by a slight increase in the local services or fire tax, if the money is saved into a fund specifically for the building.

Rezoning could be in the township's future as well.

"We don't want to tell people what to do with their property," said Misko.

But he said the process would be used to regulate the location of such things as "adult bookstores and landfills" and to make improvements along Route 68.

Route 68 is heavily traveled in the township, especially as a truck route because of the 10-ton weight limit on Route 528. Misko said the township could possibly institute development surcharge fees to builders along Route 68 to subsidize an improvement fund.

Regarding the township's finances, the township's projected 2007 budget was $605,459 and it has $634,137 in income so far. Its projected expenses for 2007 were $644,082 and to date it has spent $589,358.

Regarding the disparity between the proposed 2007 budget and expenses, Misko said "Our goal isn't to have a big surplus. It means you're not spending the money prudently, or people should get their money back."

The supervisors also discussed the hiring of a road crew employee. The crew should have four people, but it has been reduced to two because of a recent worker injury.

Supervisor Ray Kroll was absent from the meeting.

The next meeting is Nov. 7.