The Caernarvon Township, Berks, Board of Supervisors’ Engineer William Witman opened bids for road materials and presented the board with plans for upcoming road repairs at an estimated cost of $133,000 for three roads at an April 14 meeting.
In February, the township began inviting sealed bids for road maintenance materials including Micro Surface rut fill, seal coat and chip seal for repairs.
At Tuesday’s meeting, April 14, Witman opened three bids from EJB Paving & Materials Co., New Enterprises Stone & Lime Co. and Allan Myers.
Bid amounts were not presented to the public, and Witman stated that he would need time to “run some numbers” and come to an informed decision.
Witman also presented the board with his recommendations for road maintenance projects and requested authorization to get the plans in motion.
The three roads presented as needing the most work were a section of Willow Glen Road, Mountain View Road and a portion of the northbound lane of Mountaineer Boulevard.
“One of the roads we have circled is a stretch of Willow Glen Road,” said Witman. “It was suggested to me by one Willow Glen Road resident that we could let it go back to gravel, but I’m not going to recommend that. I do not show any work being done on the stretch that parallels the turnpike because, over the next few years, that is going to be relocated and evidently raised.”
Witman is proposing doing work only to the portion of the road he knows will not be relocated.
In reference to Mountaineer Boulevard, Witman said, “I cut it in half. By shortening up the limits and changing the method, we got it down to $55,000.”
Witman informed the board that the repairs to all three roads, under contract, are estimated to cost about $133,000.
“I would love to say we can wait and study this for two or three months, but if you want to get a decent price, now is the time,” he said. “I’d like authorization to put this bid package together.”
Vice Chairman Paul Whiteman, Jr. expressed concern with the inclusion of Mountaineer Boulevard.
“I just want to make sure we get our highly traveled roads before we worry about a residential development,” he said.
Nonetheless, the board voted unanimously to authorize the projects to move forward, agreeing that if the bids come in too high, they can always reject them, and with discussion that if projects are expected to go above estimated prices, it is possible that they can be eliminated or done partially.
In other news, the board also voted to grant waivers as well as preliminary and final approval on plans for the proposed Morgan Court Town Homes.
Several waivers were suggested by the Planning Commission, which included a change from a 50-scale plan to a 20-scale plan and a waiver for lot size.
Michael Hartman, a representative from dH Enterprises, attended the meeting and presented the plans to board, stating that the project would begin “as soon as it is approved.”
The board voted to grant the waivers and preliminary and final approval, and the plans will now move to the Planning Commission for discussion and approval at the next meeting.
In other news, Caernarvon Township Police Officer in Charge Sergeant John Scalia at the meeting informed the board and the public in attendance that adult probation from Reading came out to help in spraying to remove graffiti.
There is still work to be done, and some businesses may have to seek further help from insurance companies in order to have damage completely removed.
Sergeant Scalia stated that they are awaiting a hearing for a suspect who was charged in the case, and it could be a long time until the case is closed.
The next meeting of the Caernarvon Township Board of Supervisors will be held on May 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the township building.