Swatara Township to seek base repairs on Werner Road

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The Swatara Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to advertise and prepare a bid packet for base repairs on Werner Road at its monthly meeting Thursday.

Pennsy Supply estimated costs for the project (with four inches of 19mm material) at $70,896, though the board initially expected this project to cost around $100,000. The road, supervisors explained, is in need of around 2,400 square yards of base repairs in the roughly-1,000-foot section north of Oil Creek.

Supervisors discussed funding for the project, with $206,000 in liquid fuel funding from the state for 2026. Township manager Jennifer Harding said these funds will likely not fully cover the base repairs on top of the double oil and chip treatment planned for Greble, Shirksville, and Pine Meadow roads.

Supervisors agreed that the base repair needs completed and said the township should plan to pave the road in the next few years. Paving will likely not hold up if base repairs are not first completed.

“With what we have committed, I’m afraid if we let Werner Road go three, four years, we’re gonna have trouble back there,” said supervisor Dean Patches, referring to next year’s paving schedule including Airport Road, Fortna Road, and Township Line Drive.

Supervisor Joe Motter agreed, adding that the township needed to complete base repairs before they could seek surface paving on Werner. He suggested considering paving it next year.

The board discussed ongoing stressors on the road, including that it is frequented by school buses and that nearby logging recently caused hard wear in that area.

Supervisors also unanimously agreed to advertise the oil and chip project for bids, as was discussed at their March meeting.

The board expects to open bids at its May 14 meeting. Supervisors are not bound to accept bids and may reject them if plans change or prices are higher than expected.

Supervisors briefly discussed possible revisions to the residential forest district, with no action taken as the township continues to iron out details. The draft includes added definitions for grubbing and deforestation and the exclusion of both while timbering, removing truck farming from a list of allowed “customary agricultural operations,” an increase in minimum lot size from three to five acres for over 20% slope in general landscape, and ecological safeguards concerning erosion and stormwater.

In other news, supervisors:

• Heard that a construction meeting will be held to discuss the Old Jonestown Road streambank and bridge projects this month.
• Directed the recreation board, which only has three out of five seats filled and was unable to make quorum at its most recent meeting, to meet as-needed for the time being and pause regular meetings.
• Held an executive session to discuss 1919 Grace Ave. and 376 Mountville Drive, with no action taken.
• Unanimously accepted a TruGreen proposal for $7,185 for park maintenance, allowing up to $8,000 to be spent including lime treatment.
• Heard a request from Dustin Bachman for waivers for a planned mini bike event expected to draw around 500 people May 16, ultimately granting a waiver for a plan showing security, an illumination plan, and temporary structures (as the event is during the day and will have neither security nor temporary structures), but did not waive requirements for a certificate of insurance or a plan showing medical, fire, and life safety facilities.
• Unanimously approved the appointment of Jennifer Harding as TCC representative and James Shotzberger as TCC alternate, swapping their roles at Shotzberger’s request.
• Unanimously approved minutes, reports, and the payment of the bills.

The East Hanover Township Board of Supervisors meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.