This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.
Two unrelated issues concerning public safety dominated discussion at the North Annville Township supervisors meeting on Monday, Feb. 10.
Talks centered around planned traffic improvements to the intersection of Hill Church Road and Thompson Avenue and the future equipment needs of the recently formed North Annville Fire Company.
The new fire company launched Jan. 1 following the merger of Bellegrove and Union Water Works fire companies in 2024.
Mark Sallada, deputy chief for North Annville Fire Company, told supervisors that the equipment plan was formulated following discussions involving company leadership, their members and the general public.
The company would like to sell some existing equipment, purchase new equipment, and find ways to fund it while not losing too much of existing water capacity – the latter an important component for any fire company.
“We’re trying to liquidate equipment to save everybody money because we can’t afford it, the township can’t afford it, the residents can’t afford it,” said Sallada. “But we’re also trying to keep fire service without losing a ridiculous amount of equipment or a ridiculous amount of water.”
Sallada said the plan is to sell one engine, two tankers, a utility vehicle, and a second engine that’s on its last legs. The company would like to purchase a new engine, utility/brush truck, and pumper/tanker truck.
“If you take all that plus the (township) funding of that 100K, that puts us at a sell value of $561,000,” said Sallada. “The balance of funds needed is $1.5 million. So we need $1,514,000 to fund the plan. It could be double that, if we would keep everything we have.”
Selling their existing tankers and only replacing them with one comes with a cost, however.
“So currently right now we have 11,700 gallons of water between everything, which is good. The new plan has 8,300 gallons of water. We’re gonna lose 3,400 gallons of water. So basically we’re gonna lose a tank,” said Sallada. “Can we still put a fire out with 8,300 gallons of water? If it’s a rooming contents fire, yes; but if it’s a house fire, no, that’s not gonna happen. We’re gonna have to rely on mutual aid.”
Sallada said it behooves the new company to respond to mutual aid calls in adjacent municipalities since the fire company doesn’t have the funding to purchase new trucks that cost in excess of $1 million each. Additional funding is needed to place necessary gear in each of those vehicles, added Sallada.
“We don’t have a $2.5 million ladder truck. I think we have a much better end of bargain buying an $800,000 tanker or a $1.2 million engine than a $2.5 million power truck, right? We don’t have a rescue truck, which is about $1.8 million,” said Sallada, who noted that adjacent municipalities don’t have tankers like they do. “So, when our mutual aid calls us for tankers, we should be more than willing to go help them, is what I’m saying.”
Sallada added that’s a smart move financially.
“It is a whole lot cheaper for us to go give our services and our equipment that we have then to shoot ourselves in the foot and we have to buy a tower truck or we have to buy a rescue truck.”
Sallada told supervisors and the numerous residents in attendance that company income pales in comparison to vehicle equipment and gear costs.
“Doing carnivals, as I just gave you the ladies auxiliary, that $32,000, you know, and the hall rentals are doing $6,280 and $4,200 and then plus a couple other other fundraisers that we do, the carnival with the fire department, a couple block grants here and there, and a boot drive, we stand out in the freezing cold to collect the thousand dollars,” said Sallada. “We just can’t buy $1.2 million dollar trucks. We can’t. It’s impossible.”
Sallada noted the state provides loans to help fund equipment and gear – if a company qualifies for one.
“I know the state has a 2-percent loan if you qualify for it. A 12-year loan, 2-percent loan is $143,500 a year, is what you need to fund this plan,” said Sallada. “Keep in mind, that only funds the truck. That doesn’t fund anything in the truck that needs to be replaced.”
Per a previous request of the township supervisors to provide an equipment replacement plan for the new company, Sallada said his presentation was to show them what’s needed. Township supervisors did not take action on the plan nor did they comment on it during the meeting.
On Tuesday, Sallada followed up with LebTown via email to say that the plan includes a recommendation to supervisors that the fire company needs $200,000 a year to properly supply fire apparatus per the plan.
Hill Church Road safety improvement project
A mention by supervisors that the comment period on the Hill Church Road traffic safety improvement project is open until March 14 prompted discussion about the options PennDOT officials presented to the public.
Hill Church Road (State Route 4004) and Thompson Avenue are slated for a projected $2.03, one-year construction project.
The preferred option is the recommended roadway reconstruction and widening along Route 4004 and Thompson Avenue, drainage improvements, as well as realigning Route 4004 and adding left turn lanes to improve traffic flow. Other options presented to township residents by PennDOT called for a roundabout or four-way stop signs.
“I think that there would be much less of an impact on the environment if you did a four-way stop, much less an impact economically if you did a four-way stop,” a resident said.
Read More: Dangerous intersection in N. Annville Twp. set for safety improvements in 2026
Jim Hoffman, who owns land that would be impacted by the project, said he asked PennDOT officials to discuss it and was told they would not speak with him until after the public comment period has expired.
“I thought it was kind of odd that, you know, that you have somebody come in here and, you know, I guess take your land that you don’t even have the courtesy to, you know, prior to the newspaper article to knock on your door,” said Hoffman. “I remember along Hill Church Road, we had a lot of land along Hill Church Road and you’re still allowed trees. We used to take three visits for them to trim the trees. Now they want to take the land, preserved farmland. They want to take preserved farmland and nobody has the decency to knock on the door. I guess we live in a changing world.”
Supervisors were asked if they would be willing to make a comment on the PennDOT portal if they disapproved of the favored plan. It was noted that they already favored the recommended option before seeing a final design plan.
Township supervisor Adam Wolfe noted that the four-way stop received a negative safety score from PennDOT.
“What we were told when we were presented from PennDOT was that the two-way stop and four-way stop options were identical except for the number of stop signs at the intersection. The two-way stop, they would still be doing all the same road work regardless of whether you did a two-way stop or a four-way stop,” said Wolfe. “The only difference between the two would be the number of stop signs at the intersection.”
Information, including bridge plans and an interactive comment form, can be found by visiting the PennDOT District 8 website, PennDOT District 8, clicking “Projects Near You” listed on the left side of the page, then the District 8 Projects, and choosing “Route 4004 (Hill Church Road) Safety Improvements.”
North Annville Township supervisors meet the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the social hall of Union Water Works Fire Company, 2875 Waterworks Way, Annville.
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