Three quotes were presented to Washington supervisors on Tuesday for the cleaning of the pond across from Friedens' Church. The pond is used as a water supply for the Friedens Fire Company.

Dirt Works Solutions quoted $4,150 which included using the township trucks to haul the muck. JMC Excavating quoted $4,100 with the township hauling the muck and Livengood Excavating quoted $8,000 which included doing its own hauling. Since it is required to use the lowest quote, it went to JMC Excavating.Guy Schmick reminded supervisors it was not the fire company's pond but a village pond. The dam was built in the 1940s, and at previous meetings was said to belong to Friedens Church.Supervisor Josh Friebolin asked if the township should help with a truck or have the contractor do everything? But he got no answer.The fire company has been given $250 each from two local organizations - the Slatington Lions and the Rotary Club.Fire police will handle traffic. Resident Ed Ziegler said their work at the site has to be authorized or their insurance will not be valid. That was done.Supervisor Roy Dengler was asked what the township contribution would be if it helped with the work. He said 50 gallons of fuel and two men for a day, plus he made a motion to donate $1,500.Friebolin made a motion to donate $2,000 and the trucks. His motion passed.Schmick said he is very disappointed with the decision. He sees the township donating to other causes such as Eagles Nest.He asked Supervisor Gerald Phillips when the pond was cleaned last since Phillips helped at that time. Phillips said it was 20 to 25 years. Schmick asked the supervisors if they could not put $5,000 into the pond once every 25 years.Joel Merkel, fire chief, thanked the township for sweeping stones away from the fire company. They no longer go into the garage.Secretary JoAnn Ahner said the hepatitis shots can be paid with firemen's relief money.A letter from PennDOT refuses the request of the fire company to place fire company signs on the highway at the intersection with Route 873. They have to go in the area of the firehouse.A letter of support will be sent for a grant application by Wildlands Conservancy which will benefit the Jordan Creek Greenway.Donald Breunig Jr. submitted an application to have 23.01 acres added to the Ag. Security Area. His property is at Overlook Road and Windy Ridge.A resolution was passed at the request of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors to support the raising of the level at which the prevailing wage would have to be paid. It is presently $25,000 and PSATS wants it raised to $185,000.Fourteen acres to the east of the township property was purchased for $3,660.A matching grant was received from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to pay for gates and bollards - the final piece of the rail-trail.Elizabeth Gershman of East River Drive and South Walnut Street said her driveway is washed out and the land gouged from running water. She brought it up before and the grating was cleaned, but it did not help. She said the snowplow throws up piles of dirt onto the lawn.Dengler said the dirt that was thrown up will be cleaned up. To help prevent the water from causing damage the township will dump a load of dirt, but it cannot correct the water situation.A burn ban was discussed. Solicitor John Ashley will draft an ordinance allowing the township to decide when a ban is necessary based on a set of specific criteria.