Plans affecting the old Smale house and the Stone Arch Bridge are progressing in Eldred Township.

Jonathan Gula, the supervisor for the Public Works Department in the township, told the supervisors at their meeting last week that he has been working on getting quotes for the project. He thinks it would be cheaper to have a subcontractor do the demolition of the Smale house than to have his crews tear it down.

In preparation for the demolition, his crews have been clearing overburden ground. This can be used to fill the foundation, so the township won’t need to purchase fill.

Gula said he is going to prepare a scope of work for the project, and get three quotes for it. He thinks the demolition will take place sometime in 2026.

David Anderson, the new township administrator, said they will look into getting a grant from the state to help pay for the project.

Next to the Smale house is the Stone Arch Bridge. The township has been taking steps to repair the bridge, since it is a landmark.

Supervisor Susan McGinty said the township is waiting for the final versions. She made a motion that they sign the final versions upon receipt. Clark and Supervisor Gary Hoffman agreed, and they approved that decision.

McGinty said, “We received the draft for the contracts for the three grants that we have been awarded for the Stone Arch Bridge.”

Hoffman asked if she has a total amount for the grants. McGinty said the first one is for $92,398; the second one is $90,000; and the third is $750,975. The total grant award is $933,373.

Of that total, 5% will go back to the Monroe County Industrial Development Corp., McGinty said. That amounts to $46,668.65, which leaves Eldred with a net of $886,704.35.

“So this project has been long and slow, but we are getting there,” Clark said.

Clark thanked state Rep. Jack Rader, who was present at the meeting.

“Thank you for coming, sir. We really appreciate your support in all of this,” Clark said. “This is — as we all know — this is a huge undertaking, and it’s just a lot of money to do, so we appreciate your support on that. We’ll continue moving forward.”

McGinty mentioned that bog turtle and bat studies still needed to be done. She expects inspections will be done in the first two weeks of October. She said property owners along the Buckwha Creek will be contacted to get permission for wildlife experts to come on their property to access the creek.