Bradford Township’s decision to replace the bridge on Browntown Road was met with some resistance at Monday evening’s supervisors meeting.

Supervisors voted 2 to 1 to accept a bid of $225,508 from Swanson Excavating and Fabrication of Bradford for the project. It was the lowest of two bids.

Before the vote, former supervisor Dave Geitner read a statement showing his disapproval of the way the money is being spent. He would rather see the money go toward the East Warren Bridge, he said.

Geitner’s statement included numbers indicating the distance the volunteer fire department has to go in case of emergency with the bridges out. He also said the township population that lives out Browntown is ½ to 1 percent.

Of the Browntown project, Supervisor Chairman Jim Erwin said, “This bridge is the biggest bang for the buck.”

Erwin also indicated that it’s the township’s intention to fix both bridges and that they are seeking funding for the East Warren bridge.

It was also noted during the discussion that the township has already paid about $15,000 for engineering and permits for the Browntown project.

Someone asked Fire Chief Dan Burkhouse his thoughts on the bridge repairs, and he said he felt the one that best serves the fire department is East Warren.

Supervisor Steve Mascho voted no to the Browntown bid.

Also at the meeting, the supervisors discussed paving projects on the table for 2020.

Erwin explained they plan to pave part of High Street, Erickson Drive and Fuller Road between the bridge up to the intersection with Minard Run.

When someone brought up that township officials had once talked about chipping Songbird Road, Secretary/Treasurer Susan Gibiser said that will be done next year. She explained the township will focus on chipping and paving every other year, with this year to focus on paving and next to focus on chipping.

When the condition of East Warren Road was brought up, Erwin agreed it needs work and said they will look at what to do.

Supervisors voted unanimously to advertise for bids for road materials, to be opened at the April meeting.

They voted 2 to 1 to purchase a skid steer from a John Deere dealer for $69,500.05. Mascho voted no, saying the skid steer would not be useful and they would be better off fixing the township’s road grader.

Supervisor Mark Cline said there’s a lot that can be done with the skid steer.

Supervisors approved 2 to 1 a motion to promote Frank Behan as the foreman of the garbage department, effective today. Mascho voted against the move, saying that a different employee who had worked for the garbage department for 30+ years should have gotten the job.

Erwin said he considered the longtime garbage department employee for the job but didn’t want to discuss at a public meeting the reasons he chose a different person.

Supervisors voted 2 to 1 to hire Corey Black as a full-time road crew laborer, effective Wednesday, to replace Behan. Black had been working as an equipment operator in the garbage department.

Mascho said, “I don’t think we should spend the money,” and suggested they bring someone on part-time instead.

Erwin noted there is now a vacancy in the garbage department with Black moving to the road department, which led to discussion about how to best keep enough employees in the township.

The discussion included mention of full-time, part-time and temporary workers. Resident Rocco Camas said he talked to state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, about money to hire college students in the summertime, and he learned they might be able to start an internship program through North Central.

Cline and Erwin voted in favor of hiring Darryl Hilmes for the job, effective Wednesday. Mascho voted no.

Geitner also noted at the meeting that Foster Township does not use a whole crew to mow along the road, but the supervisors said it is safer to have someone to help direct traffic.

While they were on the topic of mowing, Mascho brought up that the Bradford Township’s tractor was lent out for a long period to the municipality of Corydon Township. Meanwhile, Bradford Township paid someone else to mow the lawn.

Under the police department report, Cline said that beginning March 16, the department will begin aggressive driving patrols to include watching for behaviors such as tailgating, speeding and texting while driving. The Bradford Township Police Department, along with several departments across the state, received a grant for the patrols.

Cline also asked motorists to pay attention to work zones and reminded them that fines are doubled in active work zones.

The next supervisors meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 13.