Eldred Township is looking at a significant expense to fix the roof of the community center

Supervisor Chairman Scott Clark said the township will be submitting a local share account (LSA) grant to the state for $990,800 to replace the roof of the Eldred Township Community Center.

Clark said Hanover Engineering, the township’s engineering company, said estimates the project to cost between $920,000 and $1.2 million.

The grant limit is $1 million, Clark said.

Michael Gaul, the township solicitor, asked if the structure of the roof is going to be replaced, because it sounded like this was more than shingles.

Jonathan Gula, supervisor of the Public Works Department, explained that the roof is flat and sealed with a rubber covering.

“They will have to remove all of the ballasts,” he said. “Right now, the roof’s tenting.”

Gula said it is usually nice and tight, but ultraviolet light is starting to shrink it. When that happens, it starts pulling away.

Donna Deihl, the manager of the Kunkletown Thrift Store at the community center, asked if the supervisors are still considering central air conditioning in the building.

Supervisor Susan McGinty said this immediate project does not. It is only for the roof replacement.

Supervisor Gary Hoffman said, “We have to do the roof first.”

He said the engineers have to make sure the roof can hold the weight of air conditioning units before they can move to that step.

Deihl asked if mini-split air conditioning units are being considered. Mini-split air conditioning units are smaller and typically cool one room per unit.

McGinty said they would consider them, but they have to check the electricity capacity of the building to make sure it can support that electrical draw.

“This is a process; one step at a time,” McGinty said.