LACKAWAXEN, PA — Property on Welcome Lake Road in Lackawaxen, previously used for farming, has been bought by a company known as White Hawk, which intends to develop a wine-tasting and buying venue on the site. The company also plans to produce small batches of wine on site. An existing barn will be converted into the wine-tasting venue.

Gene Rozanski, one of the investors, along with a representative from Schoenagal and Schoenagal engineering firm, presented the plans at the Lackawaxen Township meeting on March 20. While there is still much to be done to finalize the project, the company is moving through the approval process. The developers have gone before the planning board twice recently and have agreed that this will be a minor subdivision as opposed to major. Final approvals are expected to be granted within the next six months.

Highway access still needs to be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the planning board. Two entrances will be made available. The first is for the business, and the second will be for accessing six acres of unused land that will remain open. This driveway has been granted a “minimal use” status, which is defined as being used by fewer than 25 vehicles a day.

Along with the wine-tasting area, the plans also include a banquet hall that can be rented by the public for weddings and other events. A motion to approve the project was passed, although various permits are still needed.

In other news, there have been several openings in Lackawaxwn Township government. A township supervisor position is open due to the sudden death of Tom Cardianle. While that position remains unfilled, the remaining two supervisors voted to appoint Jim Syre as township treasurer. Financial transparency has been a high priority in the township since an earlier township secretary, Shawn Roe, had been accused of embezzling close to $200,000 over the course of her decade in office.

Syre distributed a detailed spreadsheet that indicated clearly where all funds were coming from and going to. The township is solvent with money to spare, and there is no need to take a bank loan against expected tax revenues, which many other municipalities do routinely.

Laurie Guzda has recently been acting as the township’s activities director. Previously, the township did not hold local festivals for the holidays like those traditionally held in neighboring townships. Guzda has a background in marketing and has worked for Woodloch Farms and Skytop. Her monthly stipend, for 25 hours a week, was voted to be raised from $25 per hour to $30 per hour. This motion proved to be unpopular with the attendees, and questions were raised regarding what was seen as the high salary granted to her. Over the objections of the township residents, the board voted to approve the raise.

Township Supervisor Albert Beizel distributed a letter from the board of supervisors regarding the road management during the recent winter storm. The road crew had met and discussed the difficulties they had faced in keeping the roads clear during the record-breaking storm, and agreed they had all faced the same challenges. Equipment broke down during the storm. Vehicles became stuck in the road and then vehicles sent to free them also became stuck. Township residents are being encouraged to report any specific incidents or complaints to the board so they can improve their response for any future weather events of this magnitude.