Millcreek Twp. redirects funds to housing rehab while eyeing post office upgrades

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The Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors opted to continue pursuing improvements to the township’s post office in discussions of this year’s allotment of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Daniel Lyons of Lebanon County Redevelopment explained that, while he submitted the idea for an accessibility ramp to the program last year, it was ultimately rejected at a state level.

State officials, Lyons said, cited issues with the placement of the ramp and the sidewalk, concerns about the accessibility of the building’s doorway and interior, and the post office’s status as being rented from the fire company. The plan submitted by Lyons also included the demolition and replacement of existing stairs, which the state questioned whether was necessary.

The state also expressed a preference for a lift over a ramp, which supervisor John DeSantis said would cost $80,000 on its own and leave little to nothing for other improvements.

Lyons said additional engineering work was needed to demonstrate what is necessary for the project, document existing conditions, and create a plan accordingly.

DeSantis said the township should continue to pursue the project this year, as it was an improvement suggested by residents last year.

Read More: Millcreek discusses grant options for Community Development Block funding

Though the post office will be considered for this upcoming year, last year’s funds were redirected into the housing rehabilitation program, which helps low-income residents with necessary home repairs.

Lyons said one homeowner will soon to taking advantage of the program and he is in talks with others. In order to receive this aid, a resident must be willing to share in-depth financial information and have repairs that can be completely covered by the program (as it will not complete work that is not up to code afterwards).

Supervisors heard that a CDBG-funded park improvements project to add ADA-compliant paths to the park only received one bid of $158,986.65. As the project was only estimated to cost $75,000, supervisors opted to reject the bid and rebid the project at a later time.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously authorized the solicitor to research a Quality of Life Ordinance, which would allow the township to ticket residents for violations including tall grass and excessive garlic.
• Heard that PennDOT has agreed to conduct a traffic study for the intersection of Stricklerstown Road and Rod and Gun Road, and unanimously directed the township secretary to tell PennDOT to go ahead.
• Unanimously authorized the solicitor to work with Newmanstown Volunteer Fire Company on a policy review, concerning the level a volunteer can be paid without it being considered a paid department.
• Unanimously approved a payment of $43,933.50 to Woodland Contractors for the salt shed project.
• Unanimously approved a $4,160 expense to establish electricity in the new salt shed.
• Unanimously approved a quote from Little Mountain Printing to print the newsletter at 38 cents apiece, totaling $1,420.80 per issue of the newsletter. The newsletter, supervisors explained, is intended to ensure all residents receive important correspondence, including people who are not tech-savvy.
• Unanimously approved a backhoe repair quote of $9,583.13.
• Unanimously authorized the fire police’s assisting with traffic control at Womelsdorf’s annual POW/MIA Ride for Freedom.
• Unanimously agreed to appoint Jeff Stoltzfus to the Newmanstown Fire Police.
• Unanimously approved a CD with Fulton, mature Aug. 15.
• Unanimously agreed to sign a modular exemption postcare for the project at 12 S. Fort Zellers Road.
• Unanimously approved the purchase of multiple detour signs, which were already purchased without approval due to a miscommunication.
• Unanimously approved a lot addition at 279 and 299 S. Sheridan Road, which accounts for a shed built over property lines.
• Unanimously approved a plan subdividing 105 Cocalico Road into two lots, as well as an associated non-building declaration.
• Unanimously approved a lot addition plan for 361 and 371 Cocalico Road, which also does not include new development.
• Unanimously authorized the township secretary to participate in a virtual PSATS class for $55.
• Unanimously approved a portion of the property at 411 Race Road that is in the township’s application to the Jackson Township Ag Security Area program.
• Unanimously approved a request from Newmanstown United Christian Church to use Memorial Park Sept. 28 for an event.

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.