Marple Commissioner Recognized For 24 Years of Service

For over two decades, Commissioner John Longacre (R-5th District) has committed to serving the township as a commissioner for Marple for 24 years, after six years of serving as the township's controller. Recently, he was recognized by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners for his years of service.

This veteran commissioner shared with Patch about his time serving in Marple, his favorite memories and his hope for the future of the township.

Years in town: Born and raised in Marple Township

Age serving in town: I started fairly young at the age of 28. I was always interested in educational issues and I was always volunteering for the school board and committees. At the time, the head of the republican party in town saw that I was active in town and put me up for controller for the township.

Big changes seen since serving as commissioner: When I first started, we had two people doing the accounting for the township and now we have six or seven. They were using primitive card machines for doing the books and now we have all these fancy computers. There was also no Blue Route when I first came into office. We went as a community fighting the Blue Route to a community that has been helped financially by the Blue Route. Another big change is that about half the township was undeveloped when I first started. Now we're sitting in a township that's nearly all developed (minus the 15 percent of the township that can't be developed as forced by municipal court due to churches, cemetaries, schools, etc.).

Favorite memories serving as commissioner: This year and last year have been really good–all the commissioners get along and we have a township manager who I trust–things are starting to finally be accomplished. When I first came onto the board, they spent little on parks and now we've got great parks in the township. Veteran's Memorial Park was a major accomplishment. I'm also proud of the fact that we've kept taxes near the bottom of real estate taxes for townships in Delaware County and have provided broadcast services and that's difficult to do.

Hopes for Marple in the future: I never look back. I'm always looking forward. Clearly, you want to take advantage of the economic cycles to get a bang for your buck in townships. I trust the idea of putting a small addition to the library and renovations to the library that will last the next 30 years. For the Old Marple School, I'd like to build some facility for police and fire, and build something that you'll be proud of that will last for 30 years. We have to look at roads again. Inferior roads are being put down nowadays. There's also plenty of unused ground around Paxon Hollow. We need to look for an additional profit center there. I'm not the one making the decision, but let's just see what's profitable over there. Let's do something that's for our taxpayers and what the community will be proud of.

Years you'd like to continue serving as commissioner: If you told me I would be here for 24 years when I was first controller, I would've never believed it. But board willing, health willing, family willing and voters willing, who knows how long I'll serve.