Lower Towamensing discusses rental prices, deposit fees

Rental prices and security deposits for the facilities at Stoney Ridge Park and Recreation Center were discussed at length at the Lower Towamensing Township supervisors meeting Tuesday night.

At the supervisors’ budget meeting, they had discussed two rates of $250 for residents and $300 for nonresidents to rent the social hall, said Chairman Brent Green. But the Recreation Board suggested lowering the rental cost to $200 for residents, $250 for nonresidents and adding a security deposit, he said.

Green said he supports the idea of different prices for resident and nonresident, but thinks getting a security deposit returned to the renter would take too long.

“I feel there should be no deposit,” he said.

Supervisor Ron Walbert said he sees the value of a security deposit.

“If people put a security deposit down, then they have something they could lose,” he said.

This provides some security to the township that they will take care of the property, Walbert said.

Township secretary Christine Wentz said she could take two checks, one for the rental cost and one for the security deposit. That way the security deposit can be returned to the renter quickly.

Walbert made a motion that they approve a rental fee of $200 for residents, $250 for nonresidents, and a $100 security deposit. It was passed.

Roadwork actually launched the meeting that consisted of a three-page list of to-do items. Some of the items on the list consisted of delinquent garbage bills, forms, letterhead and project extensions.

The supervisors approved to accept bids for blacktop that would be picked up.

The roadwork will be completed by the township road crew, but tar and chip work will be contracted out, Wentz.

The bids will be opened at 10 a.m. on March 12 at the township office.

The supervisors also voted to allow the township roadmaster to pursue getting prices for double line painting. Walbert said that 70 percent to 80 percent of the township’s roads have been completed. Green said the roadmaster will need to determine how many feet of road are left to be painted.

Only one bid was submitted for work on the storage area of the fuel tanks. A bid of nearly $75,000 was submitted by Petroleum Technical Services LLC in Prospect and covered accessories, signage, installation and several other items. Green said the bid was extremely higher than the township engineer estimated it to be. Walbert recommended that they reject the bid and advertise the project again. Green and Supervisor Jesse Mendez agreed that would be the best option.

One project in which the supervisors did award the bids involves replacing and installing lighting fixtures in the municipal building and garage. The lighting may look fine in the township’s office, but beneath the shades are aging fluorescent ceiling lighting fixtures with several issues. These issues include ballasts that need to be replaced and worn wiring, Green said.

Schaedler Yesco, an electrical distributor in Cresco, bid more than $10,000 for all of the supplies needed for the entire project, but Green said he doesn’t think the township needs the LED mini-wall pack lighting outside. That subtraction of 21 mini-wall packs brought the cost down to $7,444.66. Sheckler Electric in Schnecksville was awarded the contract to do the work for $3,409.93.