Penn Forest Township is once again paying for snow removal.

The township will pay $125 per hour for an 8-ton truck with spreader and driver and will pay $85 per hour for up to two 210 dump trucks with spreaders and drivers.

Several years ago, the township sold off part of its fleet of vehicles capable of plowing snow, stating that the expense of the vehicle maintenance and manpower outweighed the benefit to the township.

This year the township will contract with Shiffer Bituminous to cover any snowfalls that the township is unable to handle on its own.

The township advertised for bids for the snowplow services, but only received the one bid from Shiffer. The bids were the same as last year, Supervisor Judy Knappenberger said.

The approval was made pending confirmation from township solicitor Thomas Nanovic that the insurance documents were what was requested in the bid package.

Recreation field

Supervisors said construction is set to begin on the concession stand at the township park this week and is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.

Richard Strack of the recreation committee thanked the supervisors for their assistance with the recent baseball tournament that was held at the park, which Strack said was a “great success.”

Strack notified supervisors that there is a problem with rocks on the multipurpose field. Strack said that the soccer teams are using the field, but the football teams will not use it in the current condition.

Also regarding the park, resident Barbara Smith addressed the supervisors about dust from the crushed stone driveway.

“I didn’t complain for three years during the construction of the park, because there is dust in construction,” Smith said. “But there are mornings where you can see the dust just rolling off the park toward the lake. I haven’t had my screens up on my porch for three years now.”

Smith said that she is forced to change her air filters monthly due to the dust that is coming into her home.

“I remember (former) Supervisor (Alan) Katz saying, ‘We owe the residents a park,” Smith said. “Well, I believe that now you owe me a clean living.”

Chairman Warren Reiner agreed with Smith that the crushed stone does allow dust to rise and that Smith was not the first resident to point out the problem. Reiner agreed to take Smith’s concerns under consideration and to look into a solution for the problem.

The township also:

• Released Fireman’s Relief funds to both fire companies in the amount of $33,542.17 per fire company.

• The supervisors agreed to hire Ricky Ahner as a full-time laborer at $14.04 per hour beginning Oct. 15.

• Budget workshops will be held on Oct. 10, 17, 19 and 24. All workshops will be at 3 p.m.