Key Meeting with Washington Co. Officials:

I’m sorry I couldn’t bring this news a little faster, but work on the Mingo Park Observatory has become so broad and complex that I’ve been consumed with dealing with the immediate concerns of it. On Sept 22, Dick Haddad and I met in Washington Pa with the County’s Park Planning Commission to discuss arrangements and issues over the use of the Park for building a club Observatory. The meeting was with the Director, Planning Administrator, Maintenance Supervisor and their assistant.

Issues discussed included the usage of the adjoining area by Scouts, free access and use of the gates which allow entry into the area, improvement of the roads and winter maintenance, development of the area, scheduling, usage and advertising, electric power, phone line access, insurance, and the formation of an agreement and lease.

The Park Authority is extremely interested in this project, enthused, and entirely supportive. They expressed no reservations whatsoever is working with us and doing whatever necessary to make this a reality, possibly beginning early next spring. However, at this time, we are next slated to meet with the County Commissioners over this, as they have the final say and approval on their end. It is likely that the Park Authority and Commissioners will be brought up to Wagman to see our facility there, the telescopes, meet the staff and take a tour of the grounds. This will give them a better feel for what we do and have done, and show them the caliber of equipment and people within the Club.