DUBOIS – The Sandy Township board of supervisors voted to award two bids at Monday night’s meeting for the 2024 road paving and seal coat programs.

The Road Paving Program was awarded to the lowest bidder, New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company, for $550,917.45.  Three bids were received.

The bid was also 22 percent lower than the township’s estimate even after including two roads it at one point had considered not paving if costs were too high.

The Seal Coat Program was awarded to Suit Kote Corp. at $284,393.24—the lowest of four bids and 8 percent under the township’s estimate.

The Breck Road Bridge repair project is also progressing.  The work has been fully designed and the township is now waiting for PennDOT’s review.

Fire Departments’ Rating and Fire Study

Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh reported the township’s fire departments received an ISO rating upgrade after the latest audit.

This raises Sandy Township from an ISO 5 rating to a 3X. With the higher rating, township residents should see lower insurance rates.

Supervisor Mark Sullivan, a former Oklahoma Fire Department fire chief, gave his praise to the fire chiefs.

“It takes a lot of paperwork in that 10-year period between examinations to even stay current with your old rating,” said Sullivan.

The supervisors also voted to approve the consolidation’s fire study plan.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development will perform the study for free.

The DCED will look at the existing nine fire departments and their coverage, then report to both the township and City of DuBois as to what would work best for the new consolidated city.