Heidelberg supervisors accept paving bid

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The Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to accept a $197,002.70 bid from New Enterprise for the 2026 paving project at its monthly meeting April 28.

The township plans to pave Locust Street, North Lancaster Avenue, and Michters Road from Route 501 to Obie Road.

Supervisors compared this to a $197,156 bid from Pennsy Supply. The township has not previously received services from New Enterprise, but solicitor Paul Bametzreider noted that municipal governments are required to select the lowest bidder even with minor cost differences between bids.

Supervisors debated awarding the contract with Gravel Hill Road, which would have made the low bidder Pennsy Supply with $339,446 total.

However, as only $240,000 was awarded to Heidelberg in liquid fuel funding this year, supervisors opted to wait until next year to pave the road. Head of public works Sean Weik said he did not feel another year would significantly worsen the road or increase the expenses associated with its paving.

Supervisors also unanimously agreed to a $48,913.92 bid from Russel Standard for the township’s 2026 seal coat (oil and chip) project. The project includes Heidelberg’s dirt roads.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously agreed to direct Bametzreider to begin work on a data center ordinance and engage the township engineer, and unanimously agreed to add discussion of this topic to the agenda.
• Heard a request from a resident for the township to publicly display water and sewer rate information on the township website, which township manager Jennifer Snyder said would be possible.
• Unanimously approved payments for ongoing renovations to the township building as follows:
  • $3,334.50 and $12,526.67 to D&T Electric.
  • $16,876.79 to Woodland Contractors.
  • A $3,705.60 change order for the enlargement of the meeting room for the interior remodel.
• Unanimously authorized the application for the Schuylkill Highland Grant for recreation items.
• Unanimously agreed to allow an Eagle Scout project to renovate the baseball dugout.
• Unanimously approved the release of the remainder of the Ginder High Street escrow.
• Unanimously approved time extensions for the Keener land plan and the 2734 Heidelberg Ave. subdivision.
• Directed the solicitor to do a title search on a person who broke a township fire hydrant in an accident, following the person’s insurance offering to pay $10,000 of the around $15,000 in damages.
• Unanimously authorized the fire police to assist at the Lebanon Produce Auction.
• Heard public comment from resident Jamie Wolgemuth regarding the possibility of legislating compression release brakes, with Wolgemuth citing a Millcreek Township ordinance. No action was taken.
• Discussed the possibility of accepting cash payments for utility bills, no action taken.
• Unanimously approved minutes and bills and heard reports.
• Held an executive session concerning personnel matters.

Heidelberg Township supervisors meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Due to renovations at the township building, meetings are held at Schaefferstown Fire Hall, 200 N. Locust St. Meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.