At their March meeting, Penn Forest Township supervisors unanimously approved a letter of intent to make annual payments of $72,587 and $79,942 toward Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2’s tanker, and No. 1’s pumper. Supervisors plan to include these payments in the township’s budget over the next 10 years, allowing the companies to sign agreements to buy these two needed fire protection vehicles.

On a side note, David Michael III, an assistant chief of Penn Forest fire company No. 2, asked supervisors to pass an ordinance requiring insurance companies to pay “fair and reasonable costs” for a fire company response. No action was taken.

Roy Christman’s efforts to get the township to approve a resolution asking for fair legislative districts in the state was rewarded with a unanimous vote in favor.

At the prompting of Linda Christman of Save Carbon County, the township will register with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an intervenor to the modified PennEast pipeline project. This gives the township a more prominent say when speaking to FERC during the process of finalizing the pipeline’s route, and on other pipeline matters.

Supervisors approved entering a judgment of $12,000 to enforce a cleanup order for a property that has a variety of junk, car items, tires, a trailer, etc. upon it.

Engineering services to prepare a bid package and then monitor the Stony Creek Road drainage project will cost about $13,000 from engineers of Barry Isett & Associates. After a spirited discussion, supervisors split on a 3-1-1 vote in favor of proceeding. Judy Knappenberger was opposed, with Scott Lignore abstaining with strong questions over the cost. In favor were Tom Cross, Chris Bartulovich and Roger Meckes.

For the roads crew, supervisors approved buying a 62-inch flail mower attachment for $5,240 through COSTARS. It was decided to buy the unit with the blade that can cut small saplings and brush. This will be used to trim brush along township roads.

Supervisors bought a zero-turn mower for the park’s lawns, also via COSTARS pricing. The 60-inch cut unit will cost $11,706 and is expected to make fast work of mowing the park.

It was agreed to make another try for a Greenways grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for new playground equipment. The Carbon Amateur Radio Club was again approved to hold their weekly tests on Wednesday evenings at the park, and one larger meeting which will need to be scheduled. Adding security cameras into the park was discussed, and tabled for more information.

In other business, it was agreed to complete the donations to the Penn-Kidder Library and Dimmick Memorial - for $5,000 and $1,000. Dimmick officials sent a note thanking the township for the $2,000 that had already been sent.

The resolution establishing a procedure to fill vacancies was passed unanimously.

Supervisors approved the Graves family’s combination of two lots in Hickory Run Forest - adding a vacant lot to one with a house on it.

The next regular meeting is April 6 with a 7 p.m. start. As of press time, the supervisors were leaning toward holding a meeting at the township building on Route 903, with a mix of social distancing and phone-ins. Monitor the township website, pennforesttownship.org, for the most up-to-date information.