Ross Township’s board of supervisors focused on the upcoming year of road repairs during Monday night’s meeting.

Road foreman Ethan Brewer presented his list of township roads most in need of work to the board, along with some options to address the problems.

“Faulstick is the main one I think we have to do this year, without a doubt, as far as blacktop goes,” Brewer said. “And then, there’s a bunch of different choices you could go to from there. You could go to Woodhaven, you can start going to some of the developments, but as far as the main roads, I don’t think we have any main roads that need anything right now.”

Supervisor David Shay asked Brewer for his recommendation on whether scratching and blacktopping was preferable to tar and chip jobs on the roads. Brewer said that he was open to either option, depending upon the job.

As an example and price comparison, Brewer explained that a less-traveled road like Ross Lane, which provides access to approximately a dozen homes, would cost about $61,000 for a complete scratch and blacktop job, whereas the tar and chip method would amount to about $20,000.

Faulstick, however, is in dire need of heavy work, Brewer said.

“The base on Faulstick Road is too bad to just tar and chip over it. We have to have at least some blacktop to get it level and smooth, and then tar and chip over that,” he said.

Other heavily trafficked areas, such as Ruby Court, may also require scratch and overlay work, as the tar and chip approach may make for rocky terrain.

“I’m not in favor in a development like that of doing tar and chip, because we’ll have way too many people coming in here saying that their kids fell on their bicycles,” Chairman Howard Beers Jr. said.

Brewer also said that he had discussed upcoming projects with an official from Eldred Township, and that they may start work on their portion of Roth Road. While the work on Ross’ portion of the road would amount to about $27,000, Brewer said it was not a priority at the moment, and that he would be willing to wait until Eldred takes action.

Beers did remark that a portion of Stone Hill Road had some large cracks that could use some work, though Brewer said that he was more interested in changing out some pipes in the area before addressing the road itself.

Secretary-Treasurer Doris Price told Brewer that he had approximately $275,000 from the PennDOT Liquid Fuels Tax Fund to use on the road projects.

“What don’t you take the budget that we just heard Doris say, and figure what you think your best scenario will be, and we’ll go from there?” Shay said to Brewer.

Brewer agreed, and said he will conduct some evaluations and measurements in order to find the best use of the funds in time for April’s meeting.

In other business

• Nauman Mechanical was awarded a bid for preventive maintenance on the heating and air conditioning unit for the municipal building at a price of $525 annually.

• The board voted in approval of Washburn Lawn Service to take care of lawn work for 2018.

• A permit-free, townshipwide yard sale was approved from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 14.

• Cleanup dates in Ross Township have been set for April 20 and 21.

• Anyone interested in participating in the The National March for Meals campaign can contact Monroe County Meals on Wheels administrative assistant Stacey Koeck by phone at 570-424-8794 or email at skoeck@monroemeals.org. Volunteers are needed to help deliver meals to local constituents throughout March, and to participate in the Community Champions Week from March 19-23. Vice Chairman Tina Drake and Shay both said they would participate in the event.