There was an audience of about fifteen people, most of whom expressed objections to the condition of roads, especially the temporary closing of some roads because of lack of gravel for maintenance.
There was an audience of about fifteen people, most of whom expressed objections to the condition of roads, especially the temporary closing of some roads because of lack of gravel for maintenance.
The Supervisors handled the business agenda and except for a couple of remarks, the audience held their comments until they were requested later in the meeting.
The Supervisors opened bids for gravel and cinders, and received one bid for each. The gravel bid was from Cross Excavating for 2A stone to be tailgate spread on roads at a cost of $13.50 per ton. The bid was accepted.
The cinder bid from Andrulonis Trucking was for 1B stone for cinders, delivered to the stockpile at $24.12 per ton. This bid also was accepted.
The minutes were approved with one revision, suggested by Mr. Tompkins to state "no one was interested in helping" with the Comprehensive Plan. He added, "I am disappointed no one got involved." He pleaded with the public, "If you are at all interested in the future of this township, here is your opportunity to volunteer." Later in the meeting one woman did express some interest.
The treasurer's report was approved with these balances: General fund checking, $57,783.55; Act 13 Checking, $2,537.49; General Fun money market, $79,409.53; State Fund, $159,660.58; Act 13 money market, $697,462.20; Capital Fund CD, $120,635.74.
Receipts included: $20.24 from District Court fines; Real Estate Tax (collected through Tioga County), $12,907.74 total, less $2.25 per each of 132 bills, or $297, leaving a net of $12,610.74; Earned Income Tax, $100; Delinquent Taxes, $356.11; Assessment permit from Roger and Candise Learn, $15; donation from Pine Hill, $54.23.
The supervisors voted to pay bills, including: $950.64 for propane from Williams Oil for heating the municipal building and the equipment building; Service on the Ford Tractor, $394.27 from Hess Farm Equipment; $190 from Gary's Computer Sales & Service; Long Communications for a radio in the dump truck, $206.20; $750 to MC Insurance for the Secretary/Treasurer's bond (coverage increased to $1 million); and Selective Insurance for $536 for adjustments to the insurance package - adding and deleting trucks, $536; $46,072.67 to Watson Diesel for upfitting the Peterbilt truck; $5,651.17 from Bradco Supply for pipe and road signs.
Clean-Up Day for the township will be June 6 at the municipal building.
Under the road report, Mr. Seachrist said that a check of the roads showed that many signs are missing, He said that work was performed on Old Possessions, Rundell Creek and Lower Mountain Roads. Brush was cut on Patterson Road. Mr. Tompkins picked up some "road closed" signs at Bradco Supply and Mr. Sheaffer picked up blinking lights and barricades. Mr. Sheaffer said "We had a hard time getting gravel when the roads blew up on us. All the townships needed material at once." He said they ended up going to another quarry where the material is not PennDOT approved, so can not be paid for with liquid fuels money.
In response to an inquiry on Old Possessions Road from the audience, Mr. Sheaffer said "We are still collecting data on the road. It was graded and we are fixing bad spots." He said that in places, "there is no road, just a beaten path…there are no ditches." He added that the township can't build ditches until it receives signed right-of-way agreements from the property owners along the road. He said that because the road was a forestry road, and not a PennDOT road, the township receives no turnback money for the road and will not receive liquid fuels money until the road is brought up to PennDOT standards. He said PennDOT has an 18-foot standard for the driving surface, plus ditches and right-of-way. In order to meet that standard, some trees will have to be removed and perhaps some utility poles. "When we get all the data we need we will do something. We found only one firm to give us an estimate." At this, one member of the audience got up and left the meeting, although he did return a few minutes later.
Several in the audience said that the Township should have made greater efforts to find a contractor to do the work. One man said the "road is tore up so bad it ripped off my exhaust."
Mr. Sheaffer said that the spring grading on Old Possessions will begin after work is completed on Lower Mountain Road. "We made it passable and open and are working on Government Road so people can travel it, but we are not done yet."
The audience characterized this as "you are going to get to it when you get to it." Several of the residents were angered by the poor condition of the roads. "A propane truck got stuck on Rundell Creek Road, and another propane truck was stuck elsewhere. Fellows Creek Road was like a roller coaster," a man said. "My Subaru made it [on the roads] all through the winter - until this spring [when it was unable to drive on the roads." Some commented that the roads were passable for trucks but not for cars.
"You don't sit back and wait for our taxes," one resident said, "but we wait for you to do the work. You don't care…when it comes, it comes. You don't go a week without mail. You aren't paying for vehicle repair bills. Your attitude is blasé, It is not fair to us."
Claire Honeywell read a letter saying, We appreciate the work on Old Possessions, It is open and passable. "Our driveway is unusable - because the road is about two feet higher than the driveway." She noted the driveway has been there for 48 years. She asked Mr. Sheaffer to look at the situation and then discuss it. Mr. Sheaffer promised to give her a call.
The Township distributed a plan for Church Road (1.16 miles within the township). According to the handout, "The road shows rutting in pathways, potholes, areas where water is not diverted to ditches, surface destruction of macadam, and an exposed sluice pipe on the roadway. Traffic is slowed considerably due to surface defects. The ditches need to be cleaned and modified to functionality. The road has lost proper crown and needs to be reshaped."
The Supervisors were presented four options for the road, and chose to use "Option 2": grind the upper two inches of surface, use a subbase of 6" deep for 2A material; and coat with E1 prime oil. The township will rent a roller to do the work. The cost is $63,635.25. After the road surface is packed down, it will be tar & chipped with a triple seal coat at an additional cost of $61,480.
Three sluices will have to be replaced.
Brown Road will be ground as far as the blacktop goes, about 0.3 mile, and the unpaved section will be oiled.
The E1 oil is the same grade used last year, and met the approval of most motorists.
Speaking for the Act 13 Advisory Committee, Gene Segur said the committee "went over a lot of things." They wonder if the township had ever considered hiring a contractor for special jobs. "Some townships do, and they are satisfied with their work," he said.
Mr. Segur asked why there are so many bad places on the roads this spring. Mr. Sheaffer said they were due to springs and mother nature.
Mike Prybizcien asked if Talisman will take care of River Road before the dust control is done. Mr. Tompkins answered that the company will do the work and is aware of plans for dust control.
Maxine Shedden said she was concerned about the roads being closed for such a lengthy period of time. Because of it, the busses have to be detoured and some kids get on the bus at 6:30 am and return home at 4:30 pm. She also said that "emergency vehicles are a concern." She added, 'There have been damaged roads at times in the past, but the difference this year is the time it has taken to do something about it." Mr. Sheaffer replied, "We needed gravel." A member of the audience asked if the township was waiting for bids to come in or had obtained quotes from area suppliers. "Whey don't you shop around?" asked one woman. Mr. Sheaffer said, "We have to bid. She replied, "You are not putting the community at heart, you just try to put your workload in heart."
Mr. Sheaffer told the audience, "We want to get all the roads opened up and then we will do Old Possessions."
He said Brubacher will open the ditches, gravel and grade River Road for Talisman at no township expense. Some members of the audience asked that the township get a price from Brubacher for doing Old Possessions Road.
Under Fire Company business, the Supervisors approved an agreement with the Blossburg Fire Company to cover their area of the township at a cost of $8,734.20 plus $102 as the township's share of the worker's compensation.
Ann Dorsey said that ditches on Dorsey Road have to be cleaned so the water will go through.
It was noted that the township did call the road closings in, but Tioga County did not call Bradford County and vice versa, so the word did not get out to all the emergency providers. There was a brush fire on Rundell Creek Road, but because of a lack of signs, it took about 35 minutes to make a response from Canton. Signs since have been acquired.
The Floodplain Ordinance is still under review by the solicitor.
Harry Davis and Mr. Tompkins have reviewed the Emergency Operations Plan and made notations.
The new truck has been finished, except for the back-up camera.
Twenty-seven residents have requested dust control, totaling 5.350 feet. The township will cover half the cost, meaning that residents will be charged $33 for 100 feet. It was asked if residents of private roads could purchase dust control. At first it was stated that the township vehicles were not authorized to go on private roads, but then it was said that the oiling is done by a private contractor. The topic will be researched.
Tioga County has offered to create GPS/GIS sign inventory data repository and sign location maps at no cost to the township, except for a municipal staff member must accompany the GPS employee in the field and a municipal vehicle must be used if available.
Ward Township will receive $1,234,50 in aid from Tioga County.
The auditors will be working on the first quarter audit. This must be done because of the transition to a new secretary.