CLEARFIELD – After approximately 16 years, the grand reopening of the Hidden Valley Speedway will take place May 4.
The original owners of the speedway attended the Lawrence Township Supervisors’ meeting Tuesday night to announce the opening and some of the steps taken to open the speedway.
Jennifer Bailey addressed the supervisors and said they have worked with PennSafe inspection services on making sure everything is safe and up to specifications.
They also worked with the Clearfield County Conservation District regarding dust control for the dirt track and with other entities in the township in order to be ready for the test dates on April 20 and 27 and the season opening May 4.
The quarter-mile track is located on Mann Road, Clearfield. Bailey said they will have three access roads onto the property. At the request of the supervisors, they will also encourage trailers to come from Zion Road and not turn onto Martin Street Extension from Turnpike Avenue.
Races will take place every Saturday night until Sept. 14, except for Aug. 3.
During public comment, the supervisors also heard from candidate for county commissioner David Glass, who said he has been visiting municipalities through the county to introduce himself.
He said he sees problems and wants to help and if elected, he plans to continue visiting the various municipalities and talking with representatives.
He noted the biggest problems he sees right now is the budget and communication between all of the county offices and the municipalities, some of which feel neglected.
In other business, the supervisors learned that three more body cameras have been ordered for the police department and will arrive around May 30, bringing the total to five.
The supervisors discussed needed repairs to the camera truck jointly owned by the township, Clearfield Borough and Clearfield Municipal Authority.
The repair cost is $1,832.50 to be split evenly between the three entities. The supervisors are aware that CMA is looking to exit the three-way agreement and raised concern whether the authority is planning to pay their portion of the cost of repairs.
At the CMA meeting earlier in the day, the authority’s officials noted they have not used the camera for two years because it’s too small for their needs and they would like to exit the agreement and purchase their own equipment.
Roadmaster Ron Woodling noted that the paving bids came in lower than expected and asked to have Litz Road put out for bids in order to have it paved as well.
Woodling also announced that a portion of Nelson Road will be closed April 23 beginning at 9 a.m. for drainage work. The work will be done at the end of the paved portion where it becomes a dirt road.
After a 40-minute executive session for personnel, the board voted to increase Gary Straw’s salary to 90 percent of the road crew’s or $17.64 per hour.
He was promoted to full-time in September with a salary of 85 percent. Eventually his salary will be even with the rest of the full-time road crew.
The supervisors also voted to give two bonuses per year of $12,000 each time, May 1 and Sept. 2, to Police Chief Doug Clark as well as to have him sign a non-competitive clause for eight years since he’s on contract with the department. This is limited to a 50-mile radius.
Supervisor Randy Powell noted the purpose of the bonuses is to bring his salary in-line with the rest of the chiefs in the area. The total amount at the end of the year will be $79,000, which is still below other chiefs, Powell said.
