Swatara Township supervisors award road repair bids

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The Swatara Township Board of Supervisors unanimously awarded bids for base repair on Werner Road and oil and chip treatment on Greble, Shirksville, and Pine Meadow roads at its monthly meeting May 14.

Supervisors accepted a bid totaling $68,280 from Pennsy Supply for the base repair project, which totals around 2,400 square yards of repairs in the roughly 1,000-foot section north of Oil Creek. It was the lowest of three bids received for the project, which was estimated at $70,896 and originally expected to cost $100,000.

For the oil and chip project, the board selected the low bid of $194,460.42 from Russell Standard, subject to engineer and solicitor review of the bids.

Discussion got heated as supervisors talked plans to repair or replace North Lancaster Street Bridge (with one estimate for work coming in at $1.2 million). Recent inspection by Wilson Engineering found the bridge to be in need of work, though supervisors were unclear Thursday as to what work needs done. Previous inspections, chairman Rick Kreitzer said, found cracks on the top, which the township sealed.

Supervisors plan to discuss what is needed with Wilson Engineering, but supervisor Dean Patches said he was “a little bit puzzled” as to what had changed since the last inspection (with inspections occurring every two years).

“It’s a two-year mandatory report; it doesn’t fix anything, it’s just looking at the shape of it,” said Patches. “Now, all the sudden, the bridge is terrible, weight limit, and it needs to be fixed, so I need to understand what happened in two years that we’re at this point.”

Patches and Kreitzer said they felt the township should consult with Wilson and other companies as it considers next steps, while supervisor Joe Motter said they should just consult with Wilson to avoid consultation costs.

Motter, who was newly elected last election cycle, criticized the other supervisors for not asking questions when reviewing past inspection reports. Patches said they read reports every year and previously met with Wilson to review them in detail, but they found that they were not getting new information year to year.

Voices raised as Motter asked Kreitzer if he had read informational packets received from inspections, which he said he had.

“I know more about bridges than you do, I built buildings and houses and stuff,” said Kreitzer.

“Yeah, sure you did, you’re a Band-Aid patcher, that’s what you are,” said Motter before a member of the public told the board to “knock it off” and be professional.

Supervisors ultimately opted to meet with Wilson and two to three other firms, which Motter said he was fine with.

In other news, supervisors:

• Heard that a hearing for the Horst zoning map amendment will be held May 21 at 7 p.m. The developer seeks to rezone two parcels behind BG’s Market from general commercial (C1) to medium-density residential (R2), with hopes to combine lots and build 20 to 30 townhouse-style apartments.

• Rejected a request from Dustin Bachman to waive the insurance requirement for a Mini Bike Association special event Saturday. Following an executive session, supervisors unanimously agreed to authorize the solicitor to take legal action to enforce ordinances if the event proceeds without obtaining insurance.
• Heard that residential forest ordinance revisions are ongoing, as well as discussion on implementing an ordinance regarding data centers.
• Unanimously authorized the rental of a tar machine for three days to conduct crack sealing, for up to $900 plus materials.
• Unanimously approved a policy to send legal letters after two missed consecutive payments on sewer bills, followed by a lien issued after a third consecutive payment, due to issues with delinquent sewer bills in Rockwood.
• Unanimously approved a stormwater waiver for the Darkes Road Hennick Construction Development, for the requirement of 20-foot width for drainage easements. Due to tight space on the property and the rain garden design, supervisors allowed a 10-foot width.
• Unanimously approved the release of around $1,900 in bonds for Woodcrest Heights.
• Following an executive session, unanimously agreed to increase the weekly stipend for employees who opt out of receiving health insurance from $50 to $90, effective this pay period.
• Unanimously approved minutes, reports, and bills payable.

Swatara Township supervisors meet the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m at 68 Supervisors Drive. Meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.