Hampton Township Council approves bridge change orders, green-lights capital bids and advertises sanitary takeover ordinances

Hampton Township Council on Jan. 22 approved construction change orders for the Clearview Road bridge, authorized multiple capital spending actions and bid advertisements, and voted to advertise proposed ordinances to take over two private sanitary sewer systems.

The actions followed presentations on the township’s 2024 year-end finances, a detailed report from the local EMS provider and updates on salt supplies and ongoing capital projects.

The Clearview Road bridge project received eight change orders that raised the contractor account by roughly $8,000; township staff said Peoples Natural Gas will reimburse about $11,000 for restoration work, which staff said results in a net reduction to the township’s share. Council approved the change orders for a new project total of $1,606,056.14 (does not include the Peoples Natural Gas reimbursement). The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting in favor.

The council also acted on several capital and maintenance items. Members authorized the assistant township manager to advertise the annual construction equipment and tradesman rental program (bid opening March 18, potential award March 26). The facilities director was authorized to pursue professional services and advertise bids for concrete repairs at municipal complex locations (professional services not to exceed $3,000). Council approved a community-center lighting upgrade from capital funds for $52,692.50; staff said the work replaces aging controls and fixtures with LEDs and new controls and that installation is scheduled for a three-week window in June when the rooms are available.

Environmental services staff received authorization to purchase a Kubota RTV through the DES capital outlay account in an amount not to exceed $34,000. Planning staff referred a lot-consolidation application for property adjacent to the water pollution control facility to the planning commission for review.

On land-use items, the council authorized the land use administrator to advertise proposed ordinances related to the township’s proposed takeover of the sanitary sewer systems for the 4 Seasons development and for the Talata sanitary extension on Wagner Road; staff said testing and “as-built” plan reviews are underway and as-built plans are expected in early March for one of the systems.

Council denied a developer’s request to release the remaining improvement security for the revised Aquinas Academy parking-lot plan after the township engineer’s review found three missing conifer trees, two hydrangeas and three holly bushes; the council accepted the engineer’s report and denied the release, leaving $8,292.49 in reserve to cover the plantings.

Finance director Jerry Speakman summarized the township’s 2024 preliminary year-end results: he said the general fund will end 2024 with a larger-than-expected surplus (he described the surplus as exceeding $300,000 after a $500,000 year-end transfer to capital improvements). He reported several revenue variances (real estate taxes about $44,000 over budget before refunds, earned income about $166,000 over) and noted capital projects spanning multiple years. Staff said final numbers will be reported in February after all 2024 transactions are closed.

A representative of the township’s EMS service delivered a year-end operational report showing 6,678 total service calls in 2024 (an average of 18.3 per day), 4,799 patient transports and 1,879 responses without transport. The EMS representative said the service took delivery of two ambulances in December (one fully grant-funded) and described plans to press state legislators for a statewide fee schedule to require insurers to pay EMS directly (the proposed formula discussed would set payment at 400% of Medicare and cap a patient’s out-of-pocket at $100). The EMS representative also said the service will host an EMS legislative forum at the end of January inviting county EMS chiefs and state legislators to discuss funding.

Public works staff briefed council on the current salt supply shortage: the township had been at near-full salt capacity at the season’s start, received a small state contract delivery and has 2,350 tons on order, but suppliers and neighboring municipalities are experiencing shortages; staff said Morton Salt reported being out of stock earlier in the week and warned that supplier contracts allow a one-time price increase if municipal maximum orders are met.

Other routine motions — including approval of minutes from prior meetings and several departmental reports — passed by unanimous roll call.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (Dec. 11, 2024 regular; Jan. 6, 2025 organization; Jan. 8, 2025 special/agenda): passed, unanimous roll call. - Approve eight change orders, Clearview Road bridge; new project total $1,606,056.14 (reimbursement from Peoples Natural Gas not included): passed, unanimous roll call. - Authorize assistant township manager to advertise annual construction equipment and tradesman rental bid packet (bid opening March 18, potential award March 26): passed, unanimous roll call. - Authorize facilities director to pursue pro services for concrete repairs and advertise bids (professional services $3,000): passed, unanimous roll call. - Release capital funds for community center lighting upgrade, $52,692.50: passed, unanimous roll call. - Authorize purchase of Kubota RTV (DES capital outlay), not to exceed $34,000: passed, unanimous roll call. - Authorize advertisement of ordinance to take over sanitary system for 4 Seasons development: passed, unanimous roll call. - Authorize advertisement of ordinance to take over Talata sanitary extension on Wagner Road: passed, unanimous roll call. - Deny request to release funds for Aquinas Academy parking-lot revised site plan; accept engineer’s report and retain $8,292.49 in bond to cover deficient plantings: passed, unanimous roll call. - Refer Allison Park Water Pollution Control lot-consolidation application (25-1) to appropriate boards and commissions: passed, unanimous roll call.

What’s next

Staff told council final 2024 fiscal numbers will be presented in February. Several advertised bid packages are scheduled for March openings and potential awards on the council’s March 26 meeting. The EMS legislative forum is scheduled for Jan. 31; EMS staff said it will include county EMS chiefs and state legislators or their office representatives to discuss proposed funding changes.

Public comment at the meeting included resident Al Worling offering to donate $75 toward a flash-flood warning sign at the pavilion/fishing-pier creek, saying the creek “gets pretty violent.” Council members and staff said signage is planned and welcome.

(Reporting note: council members voted by roll call; minutes will record full roll-call tallies and any formal amendments.)