Monthly Business Meeting
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on May 13, 2019, called to order at 7:06 p.m. and running over three hours until 10:32 p.m. All five supervisors were present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky was absent. The meeting's biggest business was awarding over $336,000 in road paving and base repair contracts, while a public update on the sewer system raised the prospect of up to $20 million in future infrastructure financing.
Over $336,000 in road contracts awarded to New Enterprise (5-0): New Enterprise won the paving bid at $53,984 — beating Meckley's bid of $57,654 — for work on Konick Road, Parmer Drive, Oak Avenue, Hilltop Circle, and Gilbert Street. As the sole bidder for base repairs, New Enterprise was also awarded $282,461.90 for work across 13 road segments including Ridge Road, Matamoras Road, Dunkel School Road, and others.
Summer four-day work week approved (4-1): The road crew will work four 10-hour days per week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Chairman Kenneth Bechtel cast the lone dissenting vote.
2009 Freightliner sold for $75,000 (5-0): Huntington Township in Adams County submitted the winning bid through the Municibid online auction platform.
Traffic light upgrade conditionally approved (5-0): The board accepted PA Percs' quote for a traffic light upgrade under the Green Light Go grant program, contingent on confirmation from the grant administrator.
Sweigard/Schlegel Subdivision approved (5-0): Following a Planning Commission recommendation, the board granted engineering waivers per Engineer Tom Wilson's April 26 memo and approved the subdivision plan.
Maple Street sewer camera inspection requested (5-0): The board directed a letter to the Halifax Area Water and Sewer Authority (HAWASA) requesting a camera inspection of sewer lines in the Maple Street area to investigate a potential issue.
Sewer system expansion update: Jeff Enders briefed the public on plans for the sewer plant. Upgrading the current plant would cost approximately $5 million, while extending lines to Powells Creek would add roughly $15 million. He noted that financing the full $20 million at a lower interest rate over 30 years would cost HAWASA customers only modestly more than financing $5 million alone, with projected quarterly rates between $200 and $240. A topographical survey is the next step.
Nuisance and development updates: The Armstrong Valley Road nuisance was declared abated (5-0), while nuisances on Buffalo Park Road and Kinsinger Road were tabled to next month. Smokee Bros owner Paul Morgan reported hiring an engineer for a stormwater management plan, and K&W Engineers were directed to inspect Quail Commons before any letter of credit release.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary) · Tom Wilson (Engineer) · Tim Belk (Roadmaster)
Public comments
Meeting business
BID OPENING
Two bids were received for paving (Meckley's at $57,654 and New Enterprise at $53,984) covering Konick Road, Parmer Drive, Oak Avenue, Hilltop Circle, and Gilbert Street. New Enterprise was the sole bidder for base repairs totaling $282,461.90 across numerous roads including Ridge Road, Matamoras Road, and Dunkel School Road. The Board voted 5-0 to award both the paving bid ($53,984) and base repair bid ($282,461.90) to New Enterprise.
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
The Board approved paid interim bills and current unpaid bills through May 13, 2019, both by 5-0 votes. The April 8, 2019 meeting minutes were approved 5-0 on a motion by Supervisor McBurney, seconded by Supervisor Paul. The financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC REPORT
EMC Tim Neiter reported that a recent storm caused tree damage at Camp Hebron, with the weather service determining that straight-line winds damaged approximately 100 trees.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
The Planning Commission recommended conditional approval of the Sweigard/Schlegel Subdivision at its May 6, 2019 meeting. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the requested waivers as outlined in Engineer Wilson's memo dated April 26, 2019, and voted 5-0 to approve the subdivision.
ENGINEER REPORT
Engineer Tim DeWire submitted K&W's report dated April 26, 2019 for April services, placed on record. Regarding the parcel at Route 147 and Tourist Park Road, the owner was informed that a Floodplain Development Permit Application is required to be completed and submitted.
ROADMASTER REPORT
The Board approved 4-1 (Chairman Bechtel voting no) to allow the work crew to work four 10-hour days from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The 2009 Freightliner was sold on Municibid for $75,000 to Huntington Township in Adams County (5-0). Quotes were received for a new T-Tag with 6-9 month build time; no action taken. The Board accepted PA Percs' quote for the traffic light upgrade under the Green Light Go Grant, conditioned on the grant administrator's response (5-0). Cleanup Day was deemed a success, and thank-you letters were approved for Doughboys (food donation) and Mid Penn Bank (beverages).
ADMINISTRATIVE
Halifax Day was announced for Saturday, June 22, 2019 at a Harrisburg Senators game starting at 6:00 p.m., with a Game of Thrones bobblehead for the first 1,500 fans; ticket link posted on the Township website. Auditor Chairman Robert P. Wentzel submitted a written report emphasizing that the Fire Department and Supervisors should meet to update their Service Agreement and meet prior to annual budget preparation.
OLD BUSINESS
A representative from Burget & Associates obtained Supervisor signatures for the Flemish Down/Wech Subdivision plan recordation. A stormwater management application for 134 Kinsinger Road was forwarded to the Township Engineer. Nuisances on Buffalo Park Road and Kinsinger Road were tabled to next month; the Armstrong Valley Road nuisance was considered abated (5-0). The Board voted 5-0 to send a letter to HAWASA requesting a camera inspection of the drain on Maple Street to verify there are no sewer line issues.
NEW BUSINESS
Paul Morgan, owner of Smokee Bros, informed the Board he hired an engineering firm to prepare a stormwater management plan; the Board allowed him to continue spreading stones but noted he may need to adjust based on the engineer's review. The Board voted 5-0 to have K&W Engineers inspect Quail Commons for compliance before releasing the letter of credit. Discussion was held on implementing an Onlot Septic Ordinance as the next step in the Act 537 process; no action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:32 p.m. on a motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, carrying 5-0.
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