Construction has begun on hike and bike trail in Kidder Twp.

Kidder Township supervisors heard at their regular meeting on Sept. 19 that the long-awaited hike and bike trail is finally under construction. Work began this Wednesday, and, according to supervisor Barbara Franzosa, the trail is already taking shape.

The contract requires the work must be done by Oct. 31, but Franzosa predicts an earlier completion given the speed the contractor has shown so far.

It was decided to apply for a grant to add fitness stations to the trail, at a cost of $18,499.

In other business, Kidder Police have hired Ryan Kennedy of Nesquehoning as a full-time police officer. Officer Kennedy has been working for the Lehighton Police Department. The position had been made vacant by the resignation of recently hired Ryan Poeldnurk, effective Sept. 29. James Deleone, a recent graduate of the police academy, was also brought on to fill a part-time patrol officer position.

Supervisors approved applying for a Local Share Grant to fund a 2020 police interceptor vehicle, at a cost of $38,279, through Pennsylvania’s COSTARS program.

Under old business, a request to make a donation to the Penn-Kidder Library Center failed twice, first when no motion was presented, and then again, after Supervisors’ Chairman Tom Bradley made a motion to donate $1,500, and there was no second. The matter was dropped.

Current bills totaling $328,165 were approved for payment, including the annual payment into the police pension plan. The non-uniformed pension plan needed zero dollars this year, as it is fully funded.

A budget workshop for 2020 has been held, with the next scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Oct. 10.

The Albrightsville Fire Company announced it was planning a celebration of fire prevention week, to be held Oct. 5 all day at the fire house. The Environmental Advisory Council will host a presentation about pawpaw trees at the township building, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 9.

The next Kidder Township supervisors meeting will be Oct. 17 at the township building in Lake Harmony, beginning at 6:30 p.m.