The long-awaited traffic signal at Lake Drive and Route 903 in Kidder Township is one step closer to becoming a reality.

During the township’s November supervisor’s meeting Thursday, the board awarded the contract to Kuharchik Construction Inc. in the amount of $144,551.There were two bids received this time. A previous request for bids last summer received no responses.Both the Kuharchik bid and a bid from Telco Inc. came in under budget. Work on the project should begin this spring.2017 budgetThe supervisors also voted to advertise the proposed 2017 budget for approval at next month’s meeting. Supervisor Bruce Berger voted against advertising the budget, but when asked why he did not offer an explanation.The proposed budget does not include a tax increase. The taxes will remain steady at 3.4 mills for municipal tax and 2.25 for emergency services tax. The overall proposed expenditures for 2017 is $1,592,495 for municipal expenses, $390,114 for trash expenditures, $86,217.05 and in State Liquid Fuels expenditures. The emergency services proposed expenditures are expected to be $464,031.Police mattersPolice Chief Matthew Kuzma noted that during the recent Ray-Ban Boiler Room Rave at Split Rock Resort there had been one arrest and 18 citations issued.The 19-year-old female who was arrested damaged one of the restrooms in the municipal building in the course of her confinement.“Things had clearly gotten out of hand,” Kuzma said. “We made the decision to shut it down for everyone’s safety.”“This event took every man available and state police,” said Chairman Thomas Bradley. “We asked them if they intend to have this group back again and the answer was no.”Kuzma referred to the “rave” as nonstop music and drugs, 24 hours a day.Kuzma has since met with Split Rock management and there is an agreement that any future events of this nature would be coordinated with the township to ensure that the proper manpower is available should there be an issue with crowd control or safety.Split Rock has agreed to reimburse the township for the damage to the restroom.