Slatington opens bids for traffic lights

The Slatington Borough Council voted to accept the bids it received for the traffic light project at Main and Church streets, but opted to not award the project to either company — yet.

Bryon Reed, council member and chairman of the Highway Committee, said, “We would like to table this to seek other funds in order to get a little bit closer to our budget.”

The council received bids from Kuharchik Construction Inc. in Exeter for about $318,463, and Telco Inc. in Reading for about $286,628. This is the second time the borough has put the project out to bid. Last year, the lowest bid was from Kuharchik for a little more than $409,000.

The borough received a grant for $169,000.

“The $280,000 seems to coincide with the most rounded package,” Reed said. “The numbers look like they’re accurate.”

Although much closer to the amount of the grant, the lowest bid is still $117,000 greater than the funds the borough has for the project. That’s when borough solicitor Edward Healey told them their option of accepting the bids but waiting to award it, which is what they chose to do.

Reed also mentioned that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is seeking proposals for Public-Private Partnerships, which consist of transportation projects. He said maybe this would help to get more money for the traffic light project, or if that isn’t an applicable project, then maybe there will be another project it could be applied toward.

Borough engineer David Lehr said that plans for the Shadow Oaks project are 95 percent done. The plans include stormwater management, and pipework for water for a lateral connection from Oakhurst Drive to Shadow Oaks Lane up past Slatington Borough School.

Ronald Kratz, council member and chairman of the Water and Special Sewer Committee, reported that the water department has been flushing the water lines, which they do yearly. This can cause low water pressure and some discoloration, but this is normal.

He also said the state Department of Environmental Protection asked borough Water Department employee Steve Martinez to administrate tests for them at a conference in Hershey.

“They requested him,” Reed said. “That’s pretty nice that they have confidence in our borough operator.”

Other business

The borough council also discussed:

• Approval of Jason Creek’s request to do painting at the trailhead for his Eagle Scout project.

• Reminder to residents to pay the orange tax bill, not the yellow tax bill. There was an error in the printing of the yellow ones.

• Announced that April 20 is the Electronics Recycling Day from 9 a.m. to noon at the Slatington Borough Garage at 550 W. Church St. Many items can be recycled for free for residents, including one television under 40 inches or one computer monitor. There is a fee for additional items. Proof of residency will be requested.

Council member Dave Schnaars also mentioned that the town cleanup day is on April 20. Residents who would like to help clean up the borough will meet at the borough garage at 9 a.m. Walnutport and Washington Township are also holding their cleanup days at that time, he said.