STONINGTON - Shamokin Township road crew has been applauded all winter for doing an excellent job. At the monthly supervisors' meeting Wednesday evening, township resident Jerry Snyder offered praise. "Icy roads, snow, slush, and everything else. 10 o'clock at night, 3 o'clock in the morning, all kinds of hours," Snyder said, commending the crew on a job well done.
Snyder also thanked supervisors for setting things in place in the township so that the road crew workers could do their jobs. Several other members of the audience also offered their congratulations.
In other business:
- George Wolfe, representing Stonginton Fire Department, told Chairman Tom Carl that a few more fire police need to complete their paperwork before they can all be sworn in. Approximately 25 fire police are to be sworn in.
Wolfe thanked supervisors for their financial help in the past and asked if the fire department could count on them for support for the new brush truck that was purchased. The cost of the truck was $139,000. The department raised $49,000 and took out a loan for the remaining $90,000.
Supervisors had requested a specific number from Wolfe at a board meeting several months ago. In response, Wolfe asked for $45,000. Supervisors felt this was an unreasonable amount of money. "This is not etched in stone," Wolfe said. He said any amount the board could offer would be appreciated.
Carl referenced several areas of the budget that are being stretched further than before. He also said that, with the recent harsh winter, the road upkeep costs exceeded the amount usually spent "on top of an already challenging budget." Supervisors decided to hold off on offering any money until the end of the summer, when they can better gauge the township's financial situation.
- Roadmaster Jon Clemens told supervisors he and assistant roadmaster Jeff Murphy attended a flagger training class. He also talked about a few minor road repairs they have been doing, such as ditch cleaning and cold patching, which is all they could do until the weather warms up.