The ongoing cold and snow is taking its toll in Polk Township.

"Winter's been pretty rough on us so far," said Brian Ahner, roadmaster and chairman of the board of supervisors.At Monday night's township meeting, Ahner reported the clutch had to be replaced on one truck, another truck has them scratching their heads trying to figure what's wrong with it and they have also been having trouble with the hydraulics on the trucks.The township's salt consumption is at an all-time high, having used 420 tons for this winter. The township has no salt at this time but has an order in for 50 tons for right now, and another order for 300 tons after that.Ahner said he is thinking of paving Smith Road and maybe Trach Drive this year."Once the snow's gone, we can look things over," Ahner said.He advises everyone to be careful driving because of the potholes. The road crew will be cold patching them to get through the rest of the winter.The board approved, 3-0, ordering a new 2014 Dodge Fleet Non Retail Ram chassis, body, plow with hydraulics that will cost somewhere between $78,000-$79,000, which will replace its current 13-year-old Ford. Ahner is hoping to sell the Ford and maybe another vehicle to offset the cost of the new truck.The new 2014 regulations for solid waste are now available at the municipal office. New permits will start March 1.The township received a letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in regard to inspection notification of National Bridge Inspection Standards which would pertain to township bridges at Lower Middle Creek Road and Dotter's Corner.It outlines the township's duties to take action if there are: critical structural deficiencies; to develop a Scour Plan of Action (establish a systematic process of monitoring and closing bridges to ensure public safety during a significant flood event and to install scour countermeasures to protect scour critical bridges from flood damage); notification of inspection due dates; inspection agreements with PennDOT; responsibility for frequency compliance; and timely reports submitted to Penn-DOT for review.Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company reported it responded to eight calls in February.Gerald Zurat, Polk's zoning/codes officer, reported that the township issued nine permits (mostly occupancy), did nine inspections, has two permits pending, and one complaint.In other business, the board:• approved the Timothy F. Hurley Lot line adjustment and final minor subdivision plan.• agreed to advertise that at the March 24 meeting the board wants to pass the proposed recycle ordinance and to charge $2 for moving permits. Township solicitor James Fareri said they would be the cheapest moving permits in Monroe County.• approved submitting a letter of support to Chestnuthill Township in its request for a $3,984 minigrant available through Monroe County Open Space Development Program to rehabilitate basketball courts at Chestnuthill Township Park.• approved resident Kenneth Stanton's request to keep his current address of Fairway Drive instead of the readdressing Greenway Lane. He is the only resident on Fairway Drive. Although the supervisors approved his request, they told him it was up to the county whether or not to retain his property number.• heard from Ahner, who said the township could use a new dumpster or two and will see if the township can get a grant to purchase them.