CLEARFIELD – During supervisor reports at yesterday’s Lawrence Township meeting, Chairman Randy Powell made a motion regarding the proposed consolidation between the township and Clearfield Borough.
“I’m saying no to consolidation,” he said, and then made a motion to that effect, which was seconded by Supervisor Dan Mitchell. Supervisor Bill Lawhead voted no, and the motion passed 2-1.
When asked by the media if any of Powell’s reasons had changed, Powell said no.
When asked for comment, Lawhead said he is disappointed, but that the day would come that he would be sitting in the public section of the township meetings and be able to say, “I told you so.”
During the police chief report, Chief Douglas Clark reported that criminal arrests are up, with 21 in July of last year and 84 this year. Traffic arrests are also up with 74 verses 202, and drug arrests and traffic stops are also up.
He presented the supervisors with a bid from Tri-Star Motor Sales for a new 2018 Ford Explorer for the department, to replace a 2011 Ford Expedition, which he noted has not been a good patrol vehicle for the department.
The Explorer is $30,657 without the lighting and computing packages and Clark added that a local citizen has donated about half of the money needed to install the computer system. The Expedition will be placed on the Municibid Web site.
Powell presented quotes for a new security camera system for the police station. Both systems are the same, with Bosch cameras, but the price difference comes from the recorder. With the Bosch recorder, the system would be $5,165 but with a QC recorder it would be $2,850.
The supervisors voted to go with the second quote after Clark has had a chance to look at the system and ensure it is what the department needs.
Code Enforcement Officer Debra Finkbeiner reported that two blighted houses are being demolished, noting the township has been working on these properties for four to five years.
She said the township is now working on others and noted that the possibility of being fined $1,000 per day is what got the property owners’ attention.
Quotes and bids for roadwork were also discussed. A quote for tar and chipping a portion of Pifer Road was received for $15,503 from Jefferson Paving and was tabled.
Three bids to pave three streets in Haney Development and also Forest Drive were opened and the lowest was from New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. at $67,486, which was accepted.
