Pike County gets the building, and the lot

HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward Rendell signed legislation authorizing a land exchange between the Department of Transportation and Pike county for PennDOT’s construction of a maintenance building on Route 739. 

The county gets 3.3 acres in Milford, which includes PennDOT's Pike County maintenance facility, on Bennett Lane, in exchange for 13.5 acres in Blooming Grove Township.

State Rep. John Siptroth (D) and State Sen. Lisa Baker (R) sponsored the legislation.

The lawmakers said exchange would serve as a solution to Pike County's problems with personnel space and storage constraints and provide additional parking areas, since the new land would be used to expand administrative offices.

Siptroth said many county departments must be located within Milford borough because it is the county seat, but land availability is scarce. With the land exchange, PennDOT can provide services more efficiently and effectively and be more centrally located in Pike County. A new location for its maintenance shed has already been chosen.

"This land exchange is a perfect solution and makes the most sense financially," Siptroth said. "I'm happy this bill is on its way to becoming law so that PennDOT and Pike County will now have the facilities they need to better serve area residents."

"I commend the Pike County Commissioners for pushing this idea forward, it will save taxpayer dollars and improve services to the public at both the state and county level," said Baker.