Millcreek Township accepts seal coat bid

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to accept a $109,635.30 bid from Martin Paving to apply a bituminous seal coat to multiple township roads.

Martin Paving was the lowest of three bids submitted to the township, with a rate of $3.66 per square yard. The total area for the four roads planned for the project is 29,655 square yards.

Last month, supervisors opted to forego paving this year as they were given an estimate of $183,000 just to pave one road. Supervisors said last month they hope to save money into next year to undergo paving.

Read More: Millcreek Township approves easement for new 2,700-foot-long walking path

Continuing previous discussions around a 2,700-square-foot walking path planned for the 14-acre field adjacent to Abbey Lane and Progress Drive, the township unanimously approved an updated plan for the path, which attempts to space the path as far from neighboring homes as possible.

For most of the site, the planned path will be at least 10 feet from neighboring properties. However, the path bordering 9 Abbey Lane is still two feet from the property, with the engineer planning to either thin the path by two feet at that location or backfill a small portion of the edge of the basin to allow the path to come in by two feet, giving four feet of space to the neighboring property.

This comes after neighbors of the walking path voiced concern about the path, to be paid for with ARPA funds that would have otherwise been returned to the federal government, coming close to their properties.

Supervisors also continued discussions on the possibility of levying a fire tax and incentive program.

Supervisors said they are not looking to purchase new equipment immediately (with John DeSantis noting the fire department usually buys vehicles used), but that a fire tax would allow the department to be able to save for large expenses.

Most of the fire department’s funds, DeSantis said, are used on ongoing maintenance, with little left over for replacement of equipment.

A fire tax, Eric Weidman explained, must be charged based on millage, which means property owners would pay different amounts depending on the assessed value of their properties.

The township is also looking into an incentive program for volunteers with the fire department, which would establish a tax rebate for volunteers based on a point system used by the department.

In other news, supervisors:

• Heard from residents Lori and Doug Wilkerson opposing a potential noise ordinance (as the township currently does not have a noise ordinance). Last month, residents of their neighborhood complained about excessive noise from the Wilkerson kids’ dirt biking. The Wilkersons say they have reached what they hope will be an effective compromise with neighbors and the police department.
• Unanimously agreed to pass a revised engine retarding device ordinance, which prohibits use of engine retarders on Main Street from East Main Street starting point to the West Main Street intersection with Fort Zellers Road.
• Unanimously approved a letter supporting Richland Borough’s Petition for Declaratory Order, as 28 Millcreek residents receive Richland water. If accepted, the petition will allow Millcreek residents to continue paying the same rate, but not consider the water a “public utility” to Millcreek residents.
• Unanimously agreed to appoint three volunteers to a Property Maintenance Board of Appeals, which will handle challenges to decisions made by the township’s International Property Maintenance Code official.
• Unanimously authorized issue of citations for two properties in violation of the International Property Maintenance Code.
• Unanimously approved a request from Connie Clark to close Meadow Drive for a block party Oct. 18, stipulating that emergency vehicles and residents still be allowed to use the road.
• Unanimously granted the Newmanstown Fire Police permission to support the Womelsdorf Car Show on June 15.
• Unanimously approved minutes and reports.

Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.