GROVE TOWNSHIP October MEETING
October 9, 2024
Meeting called to order at 5:00pm
Present: Robert Bushor, Melvin Kehl, Jim Howard, Brandie Sherry
Visitors: Dale Wood, Elizabeth Stoner, Tim Conrad. Frank Ross
APPROVAL OF September 2024 MINUTES
- Motion made to accept by Melvin Kehl and seconded by Jim Howard
- All in favor, aye, passed.
APPROVAL OF September TREASURER” S REPORT
- Motion made to accept by Robert Bushor and seconded by Jim Howard
- All in favor, aye, passed.
The Grove Township Supervisors invited former Grove Township Roadmaster, Frank Ross to attend our meeting so that they could clear up the issue with millings that the Township was to receive from PennDOT in exchange for the bridge decking taken up on Jerry Run Road when the bridges were replaced. Throughout the winter months the Supervisors and the Secretary had received calls because PennDOT was investigating these millings and making sure they went where they were supposed to. After some research from Jim Howard this is what he found out:
“On September 18th, I had a conference call with Tom Preslash and Lisa Ludwig (814-765-0410), on a recorded line, from PennDOT, District 2. Per our conversation, PennDOT had a written agility agreement with Grove Township. The agility agreement blankets a verbal agreement, such as the trade that was made around April 2023. Frank Ross consented to a verbal agreement with Clinton County PennDOT. The agreement was for the Township’s used bridge decking, which were stored on Jerry Run Road, in exchange for 60 tons of road millings. On August 31, 2023, per Ross’s direction, 60 tons of millings were delivered by PennDOT to Frank Ross’s private residence on Route 120 Sinnamahoning. “
“On October 9th, I had a second call with Peter Kempf (814-553-8432) from PennDOT. He states the written agility agreement was in place, and he has provided Brandie with a copy of the agreement. Per our conversation, Adam Bector, Assistant Manager for PennDOT, made the verbal agreement with Frank Ross. However, the required workplan for the trade was not completed and therefore it is missing. Kempf confirmed that 60 tons of millings were delivered to Frank Ross’s private residence on Route 120 Sinnemahoning.”
Mr. Ross’s explanation for the millings being dumbed at his private residents was that PennDOT would not deliver them to a place in the flood zone, and both our office building and the ball field parking lot are in the flood plain. Therefore, he offered his yard for them to dump it, he then stated he transferred the millings to our stockpile at the ball field parking lot, and later they were used to build the landing pad for the crane to set the Wykoff Run bridge.
Melvin Kehl and Robert Bushor stated that they had no recollection of the millings being brought over to the stockpile by Frank Ross. Melvin Kehl recalled loading the decking onto a PennDOT trailer.
After more discussion between Ross and the Supervisors there was an verbal agreement made that Frank Ross will deliver 60 tons of road millings, from his own stock, over to the ballpark parking lot to replace the ones that were not received by the township.
A motion was made by Robert Bushor and seconded by Melvin Kehl to approve the agreement with Frank Ross. He will call someone and let them know when he is delivering the road millings, and he will bring 4 loads which should be approx. 60 tons.
All in favor, aye, passed.
SECRETARY REPORT
The Governor just signed passed a yearly wage increase for elected Supervisor’s duties. The new cap will be effective 12/01/2024 for a township with not more than 4,999 people the current cap is $1,845 a year and our supervisors currently receive $1,800 the new cap will be $3,145 in order to change the wage there needs to be an ordinance and only the newly elected Supervisors will get the raise when they take office.
LSA grant is due November 30th, do we want to apply?
Saturday October 12th is the fall clean up day, there will be an extra dumpster.
The paperwork is filled out for the purchase of a CD with PLGIT, just waiting for them to finalize it.
Reached out to Rich Wykoff about Wyside Cemetery, he wasn’t sure who owned the Cemetery but would contact a couple of friends that may know.
Meeting minutes have been being posted on our website incorrectly, they cannot be posted for the public until after the meeting they are approved at.
ROADMASTER REPORT
The stone has been placed under the bridge where the Engineers suggested it be put it in their last inspection of the bridge.
Road millings are being hauled up to SandRock Road and Three Runs Road to repair the road.
The containment tanks have been put in place and the gas tank is set.
Locks that are keyed alike are needed for the fuel tanks.
BUSINESS
Brandie called Friday’s gas and oil and their price for non-ethanol gasoline is $4.69 a gallon and Satterlee’s is $4.54
A motion was made by Robert Bushor and seconded by Jim Howard to purchase our non-ethanol gasoline from Satterlee.
All in favor, AYE, passed.
Renting a skid steer was discussed at the September meeting, but no motion was made yet. Jim Howard talked to W&W Equipment, and they rented a skid steer from them. The reason it was rented before the meeting was to get the stone in place before the water comes up in the river and makes it impossible to get done.
A motion was made by Robert Bushor and seconded by Melvin Kehl to rent the Kubota Skid Steer from W&W Equipment in Dubois for a month.
All in favor, AYE, passed.
A motion was made by Jim Howard and seconded by Melvin Kehl to change the October agenda to include the voting on a purchase of Kubota Compact Track loader with accessories,
All in favor, AYE, passed.
Jim Howard had a quote from W&W Equipment for the purchase of a Kubota Compact track loader, SVL65-2HFWC with a 74” heavy duty, low profile, long floor cutting edge, 35 series tilt hitch and a 46 series pallet fork, and a 2-yr extended warranty. With the state discount the total would be $68,604.88
A motion was made by Jim Howard and seconded by Melvin Kehl to approve the purchase of the new Kubota Compact track loader with accessories from W&W Equipment.
All in favor, AYE, passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Elizabeth Stoner – asked Brandie if she could get her a copy of the map of the Wyside Cemetery and the ballfield as well as the tax map ID number of the Cemetery she is still working on getting the owners information.
Elizabeth mentioned that the Barclay Complex playground needs a new swing, and was wondering if the township was going to replace the boards on the merry go around. Brandie added that the playground needs new weed barrier and mulch put down as well as the poor condition of the dug outs.
The Supervisors acknowledged that the playground needs work and will be discussed in the spring before the playground season gets ramped up.
Dale Wood – mentioned that the section he was referring to about making purchases without a motion was section 603. Where it states all purchases made by the Township must be approved through a motion at a public meeting.
After some discussion about emergency conditions may need spending approval quickly: (truck repairs, equipment repairs, road repairs, tires) it was agreed that there should be an approved spending limit for the Supervisors.
A motion was made by Jim Howard and seconded by Melvin Kehl to allow the Roadmaster to spend up to $2,500 a month for basic everyday things that are required to keep the equipment and roads safe.
All in favor, AYE, passed.
PAY BILLS AS PRESENTED
- Motion made by Robert Bushor, seconded by Jim Howard
- All in favor, aye, passed.
ADJOURN MEETING
- Motion to adjourn the October 9, 2024, meeting by Robert Bushor and seconded by Jim Howard.
- All in favor, aye, passed.
- Adjourned at 6:02
Next meeting will be held on November 13,2024, starting at 5:00pm at Grove Township building.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandie Sherry
Secretary/treasurer Grove Township