Union Township Government:
As a township of the second class, the governing body
consists of a three (3) member Board of Supervisors, three (3)
auditors, all elected at large for six year terms. Township staff
consists of a Secretary/Treasurer Assistant Secretary, Sewage
Enforcement and Zoning Officers, and Solicitor, all Appointed
by the Board of Supervisors. Roads are maintained by a part-time
staff of three (3). The Township Supervisors have the role of
general supervision and administration of municipal affairs.
They serve as the legislative body and perform executive functions,
set policy, enact and enforce ordinances and resolutions formulate
and adopt budgets, levy taxes, approve expenditures, and hire
employees. A seven (7) member Planning Commission has responsibility
of planning land use and reviewing plans for building lots and
developments. A five (5) member zoning hearing board hears and
determines appeals from zoning regulations, decides on special
exceptions and authorizes variances from the Township's zoning
ordinances. The Union Township Municipal Building at 255 Pine
Grove Road is open from 8 AM until noon, Monday -- Friday. The
supervisors meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00
PM. The Planning Commission meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month
at 7:00 PM. The Zoning Hearing Board meets as required. Volunteer
opportunities exist for a Recreation Board and Agriculture Preservation
Board which are currently being formed.
Road Services:
There are three kinds of roads in Union Township: private,
Township, and State. The distinction determine who provides services
such as repair of pot holes or snow removal. Private roads are
the responsibility of the owner, which may be perpetually in
a landowner's hands, or a developer prior to dedication of development
roads to the public. State roads are maintained by PennDOT. Seven
State roads traverse the township; they are: Bollinger Rd., Christ
Church Rd., Hanover Pike (Rt. 194), Hanover Rd (rt. 116), Littlestown
Rd., Pine Grove Rd., Sells Station Rd., and White Hall Rd. If
you need service to any of the State roads, you should call PennDOT
at 334-3155. Most of the roads in Union Township are township
roads and are maintained by the township's road crew (with an
occasional assist from a supervisor). Services to these roads
included repair, snow clearing, removal of debris, and clearing
of drainage channels. |
|
A Brief History of Union
Township:
Established in 1841, Union Township was formed out
of three then existing townships (Germany, Conewago, and Mount
Pleasant) and is one of the newest townships in Adams County.
A section of land known as Digges' Choice comprises
much of the northeastern portion of the township. The long
and somewhat tragic border disputes between the Penn's (of
Pennsylvania) and the Calvert's (of Maryland) were the cause
of the first settlers coming into this section. On this disputed
tract, settlers purchased lands from both John Digges and the
Penn's. Digges began selling land in "Digges Choice" territory
as early as 1731 before the first official survey was completed
in 1734. Fighting began when some of the pioneers refused to
pay taxes to Maryland, claiming that the territory belonged
to the Providence of Pennsylvania. Among the casualties was
Dudley Digges, John Digges' Son. Historically Andrew Schreiber
(Shriver), is regarded as the first settler of the area now
known as Union Township. The Schreibers moved to Pennsylvania
in 1721 and settled locally in 1734 on a farm near what is
now Christ Church. The Schreibers purchased 100 acres from
John Digges and paid for it with 100 pairs of shoes for field
hands. In 1752, according to the records, there were forty
persons living on tracts sold under the Maryland rights. The
years of dispute came to an end with the establishment of the
Mason Dixon Line. Early settlement of Union Townships was done
primary by persons of German extraction, with some being of
of English or Irish descent. The majority of settlers were
protestant; the Christ Reformed Church congregation dates to
approximately 1745. Many Catholics also migrated north from
Maryland; the Conewago Chapel just north of the Union Township
line is one of the very early Jesuit Missions among the native
Americans. The Littlestown Railroad began in 1875; Sells Station,
named after an early settler, was located along the railroad
and the Sells Station Post Office operated from 1857 to 1937.
There were numerous iron ore beds and lime kilns operating
in the township during the mid to late 1800's. In 1898, 4 of
the 7 rural schools in Adams County were in Union Township
- Basehoar, Valley Grove, Pine Grove, And Chestnut Hill. Other
Notable community facilities included the Kitzmiller's Mill,
and the Bollinger Grist Mill. The Ducan's Mill located on Sell's
Road was popular for making apple butter. Customers would bring
fresh apples to the mill and leave with crocks of apple butter.
|
