Christmas comes early for Zerbe Twp. residents

TREVORTON - Monday's meeting of Zerbe Township supervisors had the feeling of Christmas, with street and bridge repair project bids serving as presents - delivered by the federal government.

Center, South Eighth and South Division streets and Miller's Road will be paved in 2010, with 100 percent of the cost paid by stimulus money as distributed through Northumberland County.

"It is gratifying to see some of this money coming to us to get these projects done," said supervisor Ed Hull.

The paving contract went to Meckley's in Herndon. The company entered a bid of $68,508.34. That will be to resurface all four roads with blacktop, finishing a project that was started from scratch at an earlier time.

Bids were also opened for the work to be done on the South 10th Street bridge, which has been out of commission for the last 15 months.

In preparation for the bid openings, supervisor Harry Rebuck has been checking over the numbers and reported that the township has about $85,000 to work with for the project, coming from different funds in the township.

"With that kind of money from different sources in the township, we can see that there is the possibility that we may not need outside money to finish the project," Rebuck said before opening the bids.

He also reported that a grant was received from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that will cover 80 percent of the project's costs. That money will be reimbursed back to the township.

Six bidders submitted proposals with the lowest bid coming from Dabulis Construction at $59,835. The proposal was accepted on a 3-0 vote with Hull, Rebuck and Patty Miller voting yes on the condition that Dabulis meet bond and contractual requirements.

With a $35,000 purchase of a new deck, the total cost of the project would come to $94,385, and Rebuck said if all goes well, work will begin in the spring.

Budgets OK'd

The board also passed its budgets for the general fund and sewer fund for 2010 on a 3-0 vote.

Rebuck noted a small surplus in each, and no increases in taxes or sewer rates.

"We changed health insurances, which is saving us about $17,000 this year, and our clerk is down to 35 hours a week because of doing his job so well," Rebuck said.

In the general fund budget, revenues are projected at $560,695 and expenditures at $531,638 for a surplus of $29,057.

The sewer fund budget has revenues of $327,678 and expenditures of $309,318 for a surplus of $18,360.

"The budgets we have made include a 30 percent increase in electricity costs and 11 percent water rate hikes," Rebuck said.

"Not bad for three supervisors that weren't elected," he added, referencing the fact that all have been appointed after other resignations in the past two years.

Help during fire

Hull addressed the audience concerning the fire on West Shamokin Street on Saturday, which claimed the life of Gertrude Koppenheffer, 95.

"We had a number of people that gave of themselves," he said.

He said Theresa Clauser, who directed traffic away from the scene until fire police arrived; PennDOT personnel, who brought a truck full of cinders; the American Red Cross, and local businesses and individuals who brought food, coffee and hot chocolate for the firefighters.

"We thank you and hope that we can return the favor in a good way," Hull said, "not when tragedy strikes."

He did note one problem with a member of the Zerbe Rod and Gun Club, whom he did not name, giving firefighters a hard time about getting water from the club pond and not allowing them to warm up inside the club building. He said the matter was addressed with club officials and he was assured that it was being handled. Club president Keith Dunkleberger Jr. was at the meeting to apologize.

Hull assured Dunkleberger there is no ill will from the board toward the organization, and there shouldn't be from the public either.

Monday's meeting marked the last for Hull and Rebuck, as Hull did not seek re-election and Rebuck was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election.

Michael Schwartz won both elections for the four-year and two-year terms on the board in November. According to Northumberland County Board of Elections director Scott Dunn, Schwartz will pick which term he wishes to serve, and then the board will appoint someone to fill the other seat.

The board's reorganization meeting and next monthly meeting will be held Monday, Jan. 4.

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