Roadwork was on the agenda for the Lower Towamensing Township supervisors last week.

The supervisors awarded the bid for roadwork on Wintergreen Road and Sunny Rest Drive to Bruce George Paving and Excavating Inc. in Kunkletown.

They decided to go with DeAngelo Brothers Inc. in Hazleton for the line painting work. DeAngelo beat out Guidemark Inc. in Souderton at 15 cents per linear foot versus Guidemark’s 20 cents per linear foot.

Bruce George bid a total of $208,319.44 for the road projects, which included line painting. The cost for Sunny Rest was $78.825.92, and Wintergreen was $125,888.52. The company’s bid for line painting totaled $3,605, which will be subtracted from the total bid.

Lehigh Asphalt Paving and Construction in Andreas also bid on the project for a total of $218,344.30. Its bid included $76,968.60 for Sunny Rest; $137,410.20 for Wintergreen, and 55 cents a linear foot for line painting for a total of $3,965.50.

The roadwork includes putting down a wearing course and a leveling course of superpave asphalt mix on the roads.

The supervisors had anticipated that the bids would come in closer to $150,000. The high bids were a surprise.

They discussed the overage and whether to take the additional funds from the general fund or the capital reserves.

“I don’t have a problem taking it from the general fund. We just have to watch it,” Green said.

Mullikin said he would prefer taking it from the general fund.

The supervisors also opted to purchase a new zero-turn mower for the recreation center.

“At this point, what we have is shot,” Green said.

Michael Anthony, the township’s road foreman, provided some options available at Whitehall Turf Equipment Inc. in Whitehall for the supervisors to consider. One is a Scag Tiger Cat II with a 61-inch deck for $8,800.

Anthony said the Tiger Cat II is usually $11,000, but the municipality would be getting a discount. He prefers that mower.

Mullikin asked Anthony why he liked it. He said he went down and looked at them, and then spoke to a landscaping company about their experience with it. They said they have used the Tiger Cat for three years now and have not had any problems with it.

Green suggested that Anthony ask the dealer if the township can try out a demo mower of brands they are considering.

“Let’s make sure it’s something that works well for us,” he said.

Anthony said he would ask about getting a demo model to try out. The supervisors approved the purchase of a new zero-turn mower of up to $9,000.