Officials are in the process of obtaining permits for the upcoming Sleepy Hollow Bridge replacement project in Bradford Township.
Township supervisors shared the update provided by the EADS Group, the township’s engineers, at Monday’s regular meeting.
The township has Joint permit, GP-5 permit and Highway Occupancy permit packages; however, an archeological clearance is needed before the Joint permit can be executed. The Bradford City Water Authority has signed the GP-5 permit and submitted it to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
As for the Highway Occupancy permit, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has issued a permit that does not include a Traffic Control Plan. The permit needs to be reviewed.
The Joint permit must be issued before a contract for tree-cutting at the site can be made. Tree-cutting is expected to begin in August.
“Hopefully, we can get the permits in place and get that thing going,” said Supervisor Chairman Jim Erwin.
In other news, supervisors agreed to submit an application to the McKean County commissioners to use a 2017 McKean County Liquid Fuels allocation of $10,822 for winter maintenance materials.
Supervisors also adopted a resolution for a proposing a subdivision at 1318 South Ave. be served by a small flow treatment facility.
PA Cleanways will hold a tire recycling event from 8 a.m. to noon on July 22. The cost will be $1.25 per tire or $2.50 per truck tire.
According to one resident, anyone who wants to participate in the recycling event must register by this Friday.
In July and August, Bradford Township Police will be extra vigilant with driving enforcement, said Supervisor Gayle Bauer, who explained the department received a grant. She noted that police would be looking for violations such as following too closely, speeding, failing to follow seatbelt laws and more.
Chief Robb Shipman said this is the sixth year they’ve been receiving these grants, which provide between $1,000 and $1,500 three times a year.
A few residents had questions for the supervisors during the meeting.
Among the citizens who spoke were Jean Newton, who came to speak on behalf of her daughter. She said a neighbor had a sinkhole in his yard that was leaking into her daughter’s yard, causing the basement to flood.
Supervisor Steve Mascho disagreed with Newton’s assertion that nothing had been done to fix the problem.
“I was up there and gave my own free time,” said Mascho, explaining that he helped to fill in the sinkhole, and other people helped by doing things such as donating gravel. He noted the resident of the home just had heart surgery.
Regarding his time filling the sinkhole, he noted, “It’s not my responsibility, but I thought I would help.”
He said that, being a neighbor dispute on private property, the township is not able to help. He advised her to get an attorney.
Another resident brought up repairs that need done on Fernwood Drive.
He told the supervisors to drive down Fernwood. “Tell me if you believe anything needs done before winter.”
According to the resident, a snowplow took part of the blacktop off in one area.
Erwin offered to make the trip to Fernwood to inspect the damage.
The next meeting of the Bradford Township supervisors will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 14.
