Mahoning Township's board of supervisors discussed upcoming grant funding related to zoning ordinances last week.

The township is due to receive a portion of two grants, one from the Audubon Society for $20,000, and one from the state's Municipal Assistance Program for $45,000.Supervisor Bruce Steigerwalt said the grants will be applied to working on the township's zoning ordinances and subdivision and land development ordinances.The board also voted to authorize chairman Franklin Ruch to sign off on any paperwork related to the grants.The board is beginning its 2017 Community Development Block Grant pre-application process. Members agreed that funding obtained from the 2017 CDBG will be combined with 2016 funding in order to work on Douglas St. and Pine St. in Packerton, with any potential additional funding to be applied to Beaver Street.After a recent annual loss prevention audit by insurance company HA Thomson, the board is considering establishing a safety committee.Secretary-Treasurer Natalie Haggerty said that a safety committee could help save the municipality 5 percent, or approximately $4,500, on its insurance costs.The committee could be responsible for training and safety awareness for municipality workers. Before a final decision is made, the board will conduct some further research to see if there is an interest from municipality workers."I'll get the ball rolling," Ruch said. "I'll talk to someone from the fire company and the ambulance company, see if we can get a committee together."An initial motion to adopt the committee was tabled until the board can obtain more information.Vice chairman John Wieczorek reported that Walmart and Lowe's Home Improvement in Lehighton provided grants in the amounts of $2,000 and $1,800 to the Mahoning Police Department. Wieczorek said that the grants may be earmarked for the purchase of walkie-talkies.A motion to pay for replacement tires for a township-owned backhoe were approved.An additional motion to get a quote for testing the backhoe for any issues, especially dealing with the ride control, from Ag Industrial was also passed.The board is considering purchasing a 2003 F250 four-wheel drive utility truck from the Lehighton Water Authority for approximately $4,500. Steigerwalt said that he would like to take a look at the truck before making a decision on the purchase.The road committee approved the seasonal hiring of two workers, Chris Knappenberger and Jeff Kirsch, for part-time positions.The committee also approved the advertisement of two open part-time positions for CDL class B license holders during the summer, on an as-needed basis. Details on the positions will be posted in the near future.The board approved to advertise for the June 14 recycling event, open to all Mahoning Township residents.