Jonathan Gula, the director of the Public Works Department for Eldred Township, told supervisors this week, that the Christmas weekend was rough for his department. He said his staff pretty much gave up their whole weekend to take care of the township.

“We had some extreme conditions,” Gula said, noting that they had 2 inches of rain followed by 2 degree Fahrenheit weather.

Gula said the township developed ice build-up of 10 to 12 inches in some areas. Polk Township let them borrow a grader to grind down the ice.

Dec. 23 was bad, because there were eight trees blown down and his crews battled 60 mph winds and negative wind chill temperatures.

On Christmas Eve, the radio tower lost power, so they got a back-up generator running. Then the post office lost heat.

“We were very busy,” Gula said.

After the weather got better, the Public Works Department did some in-house projects. They ran water lines to the other three bays of the garage, so they can wash the trucks.

Gary Hoffman, the chairman of the supervisors, brought up that the Public Works Department was there to help out a neighboring township in need.

He said Ross Township had a house fire but the fire truck couldn’t get up the hill on Meixsell Valley Road.

Gula sent one of his staff over to the fire scene, and he put down cinders and gravel which made it possible for the fire truck to climb the hill. Hoffman said it was the right thing to do.

“In an emergency like that, saving lives comes first,” Hoffman said.

In other business, Ann Velopolcek said the Parks and Recreation Committee received notification that it was awarded a Recreation and Parks Technical Assistance Program grant. The committee applied for the grant in October 2021. The grant is for $2,500 and is to hire a peer consultant/technical assistant to create a landscape concept design for the Village Square pocket park.

The grant is through the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society. Velopolcek said there isn’t any requirement for a match, but the township is required to become a member of the organization. The membership fee is $100, but Velopolcek thinks it is worth it because they have many resources for park planning and events.

Velopolcek also reported on questions the supervisors had about the possible removal of the dock behind the Eldred Township Community Center and if the steps can be saved and if a permit is needed.

She said she talked to Jeff Snyder, the township’s zoning and codes officer, and he said the dock doesn’t appear to be attached to the building, so it can be removed. He doesn’t think the steps can be saved. No permit is required, he told her.

Hoffman said as for the mold remediation in three modular units at the community center, they are still waiting to receive an additional quote for the mold removal.

The next meeting is Jan. 18, but it may be canceled since they had a regular meeting after the reorganization meeting. If it is canceled, the next meeting will be Feb. 15.