The Polk Township supervisors have approved the purchase of a 2019 International HV507 truck for use in the township’s road department. The truck is equipped with a Cummins L9-350 engine and was purchased under a COSTARS discount agreement from Five Star in Allentown.

The base truck will cost $89,825. The upgrade, which includes the aluminum body and the plow installation, will cost an additional $52,039.38 for a total of $143,864.38.

The truck will be paid for out of the township’s liquid fuels account. The liquid fuels money is received by townships from the state gasoline tax and is determined by the number of road miles each township maintains.

One requirement of the liquid fuels program is that a certain amount of the money received by the townships must be spent on new vehicles.

The township supervisors also approved the purchase of a new Yale forklift for use at the transfer station. The township currently has two propane forklifts, one of which is not working at all and one that is unreliable.

The new forklift will cost $23,650 and will be paid for out of grant money received by the township for its recycling program. The forklift will also be purchased under the COSTARS discount program.

The township also received a performance grant in the amount of $2,379 for its recycling program.

The township is looking to hire a new member for the road crew. Some interviews have taken place, but no decision to hire was made on Monday.

Speed limit reduced

A traffic study has been completed for the section of Dotters Corner Road near Camp Harlem. A motion was made to amend the ordinance to change it to 35 mph from 45 mph for the area between Dotters Corner Road and Rustic Road.

The Ragner Relay took place on June 23 and the township has been notified that the relay did not obtain approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation before the event. The township received a letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation after the race stating that the permit was denied. The township received complaints from residents, particularly around Dotters Corners that the cones in the road made driving in the area a problem.

Chairman Brian Ahner made a motion that in the future the township would not approve the use of township roads for the event without PennDOT approval.

The supervisors agreed to have solicitor James Fareri review ordinances which address landlord/tenant issues after a number of residents filed complaints about rental properties in the township.