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Out with the old trucks, in with the new

MILL HALL — Three of Bald Eagle Township’s trucks are listed for sale on Munibid.com where they are gathering bids until sometime next month. The bids on all three are up to $32,600, more than the supervisors had hoped for, according to the township secretary.

Last month, the supervisors agreed to list the 1990 Chevrolet Kodiak, the 2002 F-350, and the 2011 F-550 on the bidding site.

This action followed a closed-door session on a “legal” matter, as township solicitor Lee Roberts described it, in which the supervisors reportedly discussed the lowest bids they would accept on the trucks.

At a special meeting March 16, the supervisors approved buying two replacement trucks from Maxwell, a Ford F-550 for $81,250 and a Freightliner at $133,821. Four truck suppliers were asked for quotes and two responded, with Maxwell having the lower prices, according to Gerard Banfill, township assistant treasurer and operations coordinator.

Maxwell also is adding a back-up camera and providing a temporary T-Tag as a township work vehicle between the time the township sells the old trucks and receives the new ones.

One financing plan is to use up to $75,000 from the depreciation account to pay for the new vehicles and to borrow the rest from First Citizens Bank, which has a branch in the township, through a 10-year note at 4 percent interest. The money from the sale of the three existing trucks could either be placed back in the depreciation account or used toward the purchase of the new trucks.

The changes in the township fleet reflect what appears to be a new attitude at the municipal building.

“Spring cleaning” has lead to the disposal of broken furniture and other items, as well as general cleanup around the outside of the building.

Exterior security cameras are also installed and functioning now, Banfill said.

During the township meeting last night, the supervisors, Banfill, and Roberts held another closed-door session, this one on “personnel.” Roberts announced afterward it was about raises.

The supervisors approved raises of $1 per hour for Guy Poorman, who is the full-time employee, and 50 cents an hour for township secretary-treasurer Marissa M. Morgan. Part-time employee Gary Mellott also received a raise and will be paid $14.50 per hour.

Doll Brown, a township resident who often attends the meetings, reported messes at the no-name clothing collection bins on the Hogan Boulevard property that includes Crystal Vision. She said furniture, mattresses, old toys have been piled up around the bins recently, and once yard sales start, the problem will likely get worse. Because this is an ongoing problem, the township should tell the property owner to have the bins removed, residents suggested.

The “USAgain” collection bins seem to be emptied on a more regular basis in recent weeks, residents noted.

Jim Banfill asked about the longstanding nuisance of junk vehicles next to the road on the Frank Draper property.

The solicitor said he has called and sent a letter over the past few months, telling the family to clean this up. Their response was they do not have the money to fix the problem with the vehicles. He said he told them to at least drag the vehicles out of sight, but they have not done so. The next step, he said, is for the zoning officer to cite them.

Kelly McGhee asked the supervisors to be proactive and seek a new business for the Kmart space in Millbrook Plaza. Kmart will be closing in mid June.

Banfill suggested the township meet with the Clinton County Economic Partnership about it.

Also in the area of Hogan Boulevard, the Draketown Road sewer line will be the subject of a meeting April 11, Banfill said. The Clinton County Sewer Authority wants to improve that line, and SEDA-Council of Governments will be here, he said. Representatives from Avery Dennison, Croda Inc., and Condo’s Welding will also be included as the three main businesses on Draketown Road.

The line is in “disarray,” Banfill said, and is so old, it has brick-lined manholes. Bald Eagle Township inherited the line from Mill Hall more than 20 years ago, he said.

The industries along it are pushing its capabilities, and now Avery plans to expand at its warehouse building. The idea is to address it before a major problem arises, he said.

Banfill chairs the Bald Eagle Township Sewer Authority and is its representative on the Clinton County Sewer Authority.

The supervisors approved setting up a roll-off Dumpster at the township building in May so residents may drop off unwanted tires before May 19 and 20, which are the special tire collection days at Wayne Township Landfill. Residents (not businesses) may bring up to 12 tires to the township building during regular business hours and turn them in for free. They must sign a sheet when they bring the tires. The township will then deliver them all to the landfill.

The supervisors hope to have the roll-off available the weeks of May 8 and May 15, but that will depend on when they can get the Dumpster.

A work day at the Clinton County Community Pool at Mill Hall will be held Saturday, April 22, McGhee announced. This is a Comcast Cares Day, and community volunteers are encouraged to join with Comcast volunteers in preparing the pool for summer. The work starts at 8:30 a.m. Snacks and lunch will be provided, she said.

The township recently hosted a flagging certification course for area municipalities and will host another course, for “confined space certification,” on June 13, also open to other local governments. This certification covers workers who must go down manholes.

The school district has announced that Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. will be excavating and transporting soil above the stadium at Central Mountain High School starting sometime in early April. Heavy truck traffic is expected from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, so traffic patterns at the school will change to accommodate the situation and keep students and drivers safe.

The next supervisors meeting will be held Monday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is normally held the last Monday of the month.

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