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Salem Township advances Kennan, Tucker and Apple/Tower waterline work; residents press for cost clarity
Summary
Supervisors approved engineering and grant actions to move Kennan Drive and Tucker Road waterline projects forward, acknowledged a $350,000 LSA award and a $340,000 Small Sewer & Water award for Apple/Tower Lanes; residents questioned rising project costs and whether all homeowners must connect.
Salem Township supervisors on Jan. 21, 2026 took a series of steps to advance local waterline projects while residents pressed for clarity about costs and tap-in obligations.
The board renewed Regola Consulting’s $2,500 monthly retainer and acknowledged a $350,000 LSA grant award to fund the Tucker Road waterline extension, authorizing the project scope to match the award. Kerry Jobe said the township had to reapply for some grants after state timing issues and warned the $350,000 will not cover the full project cost, which the board said is estimated at about $600,000.
Supervisors also announced a roughly $340,000 award under the Small Sewer and Water program for an Apple/Tower Lanes waterline extension; Jobe said that award will cover a substantial portion of the Apple/Tower project. For Kennan Drive, the board approved a $12,000 proposal from Morris Knowles & Associates for engineering services. Todd Paulich said the township plans to run a waterline from Kennan to Orrs using township crews and equipment, with an estimated 3–4 month construction window once work begins.
Residents from Kennan Drive, including Greg Bosich and Char Neiport, told the board they have waited since 2015 and objected to rising project estimates (cited as about $188,000 in 2015 to more than $500,000 now). The board said final funding allocations and state determinations will govern how costs are applied and whether residents must connect; supervisors noted the state can make final decisions on fund application and that tap-in requirements may vary.
The board authorized Morris Knowles engineering work and clarified that the township may perform construction on municipal roads using in-house staff, but work on state-owned roadways would require different arrangements. The meeting did not produce a definitive timetable for resident tap-in obligations or final total project budgets; supervisors said further design and funding steps remain.
Next steps: engineering by Morris Knowles, grant administration by township staff and continued resident outreach; a public hearing related to Penn Home & Farm is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2026 that may affect local planning decisions.
