At the Walker Township Supervisors meeting Thursday, several local residents expressed concerns that there were no road work signs posted along Kettle Road in the township while the road construction work is being done, citing concerns for the safety of those using the road.

Township Supervisor Kent Heisler said he did see one sign there.

“We got calls,” Supervisor Craig Wagner confirmed. “I saw that sign also. We did talk to Chad (Felty, roadmaster), and told him that we have to put more signs up.”

The residents also complained about the road being milled down and left that way over the weekend. Wagner said he spoke to Felty about changing the schedule so that the milling can be done at the beginning of the week rather than on a Friday, so the road can be filled in again by Friday.

The work is being done with a “dirt and gravel road grant” issued by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It is a three-year project; this year the grant is for $86,938. The total project is expected to be over $285,000 and will upgrade Kettle Road from a dirt road to one that is almost like concrete.

“Hopefully, you’ll see that we have a lot of improvements going on,” Wagner told those at the meeting. “Between the park renovations grant and the dirt and gravel road project, we’re doing well.”

Other road projects for 2021 include areas of Mountain Road, Swamp Lane and other parts of Kettle Road.

DUI training

Walker Township Police Chief Doug Springer recently completed training for the Northeast Regional DUI Task Force for Schuylkill County. He plans to begin conducting sobriety checkpoints in the near future within the township.

Line painting

The township had rejected bids on tarring, sealing and chipping projects that would have been done this year, but were dropped due to pricing, so the township is now looking at bids for doing street line painting on the township streets. The only bid received so far is 8 cents per linear foot.

“So just for example, if it’s 100,000 feet, if it’s 8 cents per linear foot, it’s $8,000,” Wagner said.

The supervisors decided to hold off making any decisions until more information and possible more bids could be received.

CDBG loans/grants

Walker Township Supervisors advised that Schuylkill County is accepting applications from microenterprises and small businesses within Schuylkill County boundaries to receive a CDBG loan/grant, a maximum of $15,000, for businesses affected by COVID-19.

For-profit business recipients of CDBG funds can fall into one of two categories: Microenterprises (five or fewer employees) or small businesses (20 or fewer employees). Eligible businesses must have been in business for at least one year.

Businesses must document an impact from COVID-19 for the time period of March 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020, compared to the prior year.

All use of CDBG-CV funds for business assistance must be used to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus.” CDBG CV funds may be used in a way that best suits the needs of the business and does not duplicate assistance provided from another source.

Expenses incurred by the business since Jan. 27, 2020, are eligible for reimbursement. All costs incurred by Dec. 31, 2021, are eligible.

To meet the national objective of the CDBG program, each business must create or retain at least one job held by or available to a low-income person. Only permanent jobs will be considered. Funds will be provided as a forgiveness loan - if the business retains or creates the job and the position is sustained for six months, the condition of the grant will be considered to be met.

The application form has a complete list of requirements that each business must adhere to for the loan/grant.

For information and an application, contact Walker Township’s office by email at walkertwpsecretary@gmail.com or by phone at 570-617-8512. The application is expected to be added to the township’s website at http://walkertwp.com/wordpress/.