CLEARFIELD – The Lawrence Township Supervisors had a short agenda last night as they approved bids and received updates on various items.
The supervisors also answered questions concerning sewer surcharges and a problem with a closed alley.
Bids for winter road materials were opened. The bid for 1,200 ton (more or less) of 6S antiskid was awarded to Bucktail Excavators at $16.93 per ton.
The bid for 2,000 ton (more or less) of 67 limestone was awarded to Woodland Equipment & supply at $17.16 per ton.
Roadmaster Ron Woodling reported that paving in Haney Development will be Thursday and Friday. He also said that a grant for stone for Pifer Road was approved for approximately $37,000 and that work will be done in the spring.
In regards to closing the end of Deacon Road where it connects to High Level Road, Woodling said he learned they must have Type 3 barriers, which are breakaway barriers, and he is in the process of getting that matter settled.
Secretary Barb Shaffner reported that, based on her calculations, the township can transfer $100,000 to help offset the unfunded liability to the police pension.
Solicitor Jim Naddeo asked that the supervisors table approval until after an upcoming meeting with the unions regarding contracts.
Shortly after the meeting was called for adjournment, several members of the public spoke up, stating that they wanted to ask about sewer surcharges and that the opportunity for public comment at the beginning of the meeting “went by too fast.”
The supervisors started answering questions, and then chose to reopen the meeting officially midway through the conversation.
Residents asked what the surcharge of $8 per 1,000 gallons is for. Shaffner replied that it is to pay for three loans for sewer projects and that the $8 charge barely covers the debt service.
Supervisor Bill Lawhead added that the Clearfield Municipal Authority collects the surcharge and deducts $1,000 for administrative fees before sending the balance to the township to pay the debt service.
For those residents who are on public sewer but not public water, a meter has been installed on their wells and the fee is calculated from that. The surcharge is charged to both residents and businesses.
One resident noted that some people are not metered for their well water, although they are on the sewer system and the supervisors said this is an ordinance violation and asked that anyone who is aware of someone in this situation to call the township or CMA.
A question was also raised about a bridge constructed across Stinky Run near the Hillsdale Community Park and who would be responsible if someone was hurt on the bridge. The bridge is built on Virgin Alley.
After some discussion with Naddeo, it appears the alley may not be part of the public system of roadways maintained by the borough.
The alley would then be owned by adjoining neighbors up to the middle line of the alley. In that case, the matter is a civil one and regardless of the ownership of the alley, the township would not be responsible for any injuries.
Marty Neeper, chief of Hyde Fire Co., addressed the supervisors regarding selling the company’s ladder truck and purchasing a 100-foot quint apparatus truck.
He said the quint truck he is looking at is in Ohio and while it is three years older than the ladder truck, it is in better condition. Neeper said he would like to go to Ohio to look at the truck.
Lawhead replied that he is not in favor of purchasing the truck and selling the other truck. He said the ladder truck is paid for and they do not need a different truck. Neeper stated that with taller buildings being constructed a 100-foot apparatus would be useful.
Ultimately, Supervisor Randy Powell said the matter would need to be discussed in the upcoming budget meetings.