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The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to advertise for bids for the 2024 paving project at its meeting on Feb. 19.
The bids will be considered at the board’s March 18 meeting.
This year, the township plans to pave:
- Hill Street from Route 72 to the cul-de-sac.
- North 20th Street between Hill and West Maple streets.
- West Maple Street between North 20th and North 22nd streets.
- North 25th Street from Tunnel Hill Road to Taylor Street.
- Taylor Street between North 25th and North 24th streets.
- North 24th Street from Taylor Street to Union Canal Drive.
- North 23rd Street from Glonninger Street to Union Canal Drive.
- Glonninger Street between North 24th and North 23rd streets.
- Union Canal Drive between North 25th and North 22nd streets.
- North 25th Street from Union Canal Drive to the paving joint north of the tunnel.
The section of North 25th Street to be paved is part of West Lebanon Township, which will repay North Lebanon for that portion of the project.
In addition to advertising with the Daily News, the township will also advertise the project on the free PennBid platform. Supervisors hope using PennBid will result in more and possibly more cost-effective bids.
The township carried out extensive paving in 2023 after postponing street paving due to high bids in 2022.
Read More:
- N. Lebanon Twp. supervisors push back paving projects due to high fuel prices (2022)
- North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors approves extensive paving (2023)
Supervisors also announced that the next police regionalization meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the township building.
Former supervisor Lee Spencer spoke in opposition to police regionalization during public comment.
“I served this township for 50 years in the fire service, I’m a former township supervisor, and I really do not think it is a good idea for North Lebanon Township to follow through with this regionalization,” said Spencer, emphasizing that police control will not only be shared with North Cornwall but also with the state.
“It’s not only like you’re turning your back on the people that supported the police department for all these years, but you’re turning your back on our police,” he said. “You’re making a situation that is manageable unmanageable, and it will be a nightmare for any township managers involved in those two municipalities.”
Supervisor Ardy Snook said that he feels thorough planning is key to successful regionalization.
“If there’s one thing both very successful departments emphasized to us while we were there is it’s gotta be set up right, it’s gotta be structured right, and it’s gotta be run right,” said Snook. “And that’s what we’ve been focusing on.”
Read More:
- North Lebanon Township supervisors consider regional police with N. Cornwall
- N. Cornwall, N. Lebanon agree to 50/50 split for proposed regional police charter
He offered to discuss the subject further with Spencer one-on-one to hear his perspective, and Spencer agreed.
The steering committee has three meetings scheduled, and additional meetings may be added depending on progress made at that point. Supervisor Gary Heisey emphasized the thoroughness of the regionalization process and his and Snook’s role in it.
“That is why we’re having all these meetings, and that is why we keep going over everything to make sure it’s perfect before we sign it,” said Heisey, noting in particular his concern with North Cornwall’s agreement to a 50/50 split of finances. “You know what that’s gonna cost their taxpayer base? And they just made that 50/50 split without even looking into it.
“Boggling, and I’m 100 percent on figuring out why they agreed to that, and I will figure that out before I sign my name to any piece of paper.”
Neither North Lebanon nor North Cornwall are locked into regionalization, and both have the ability to back out of the agreement at any point up until its signing.
Once the steering committee has finished reviewing the drafted charter and other documents, regionalization will be before both boards of supervisors for approval.
In other news, the board:
- Unanimously agreed to adopt the 2023 Lebanon County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
- Unanimously approved Ordinance #1-2024 concerning weight restrictions on Emma Road Bridge following a public hearing.
- Unanimously agreed to regretfully accept William Smeltzer’s resignation from the Planning Commission and appoint Rick Horst in his place, with Carrie Boyer as a new alternate.
- Unanimously agreed to adopt Resolution #12-2024 appointing positions to the Pension Committee rather than naming individuals.
- Unanimously agreed to authorize the advertisement of a boiler and oil burner found at 701 Kimmerlings Road for MuniciBid.
- Unanimously agreed to approve changes to call boxes for fire companies.
- Unanimously agreed to apply for a $750 PMHIC Wellness Grant.
- Unanimously approved the Ebenezer Beautification Committee’s use of the Lion’s Lake parking lot for a barbecue fundraiser May 15.
- Unanimously approved a second off-premises billboard to be located at 1754 SR 72 after a public hearing.
- Unanimously agreed to allow Keystone Novelties to sell fireworks at the Lion’s Lake parking lot from June 17 to July 19, increasing the fee from $900 to $1,000 at the Parks and Recreation Board’s recommendation.
- Unanimously agreed to appoint Kevin Atkins to the Safety Committee in the place of Timmy Buffenmeyer, who is retiring.
- Received various yearly reports for 2023.
North Lebanon supervisors meet at the township municipal building the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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