During a meeting Thursday, Walker Township supervisors were asked to spend money to help the local fire company, and to purchase a digital radio system for its police department.

New England Fire Company President Robert Frantz and Chief Dave Duffy said that expenses are steadily increasing, while donations which aren't enough come in loyally from the same people.They suggested that the township increase the amount of money it delegates from its tax millage, currently a half mill, as a yearly contribution to the fire company.The fire company representatives said that the cost of fuel oil, which was $6,595 in 2013, is already at $5,242 for the current year.Also, the fire company has recently installed a new fire alarm system at a cost of about $6,000. Rentals of the company's social hall, which used to number 30-40 a year, are only about 10 times a year in recent years.Chairman Bill McMullin said the issue was something the supervisors would discuss as they prepared a budget for 2015.The supervisors also heard from Bob Green of Green's Communications in Pottsville, who updated them on the status of the county's conversion to digital radios for police departments.Green said that 85 percent of the county's police departments have made the switch from analog to digital radios, and that the county has set a deadline to switch as October of this year.The cost to purchase one mobile radio for a police car, and one portable radio, to be worn by an officer, would total $14,302 ($7,737 for the mobile and $6,565 for the mobile).Green said that discounts through the state Costars program, along with a discount negotiated by the county, would bring the total cost down to $9,066.The supervisors will arrange for police officer Todd Woodward to meet with Green to discuss the system. The expenditure was not included in Walker's budget for 2014, but Green said that payments could be financed and deferred to future years.Township roadmaster Chad Felty said he'd replaced the pipe running through the parking lot at Zion's Methodist Church, Reynolds. Resident Dave Houser, representing the church, had told the supervisors in prior meetings that the pipe had broken, causing a hole and damaged pavement in the lot.Feltz said that he also replaced a cross pipe on Kettle Road. Both pipes will be allowed to settle over the winter months before the pavement is redone above them, he said.