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Salem Township enacts ordinance to add weight-restricted roads after residents report damage
Summary
Salem Township supervisors unanimously adopted Ordinance 2-2026 on Feb. 24, 2026, adding roadways to the township's weight-restricted list after residents reported heavy hauling damaging Quarry Drive; supervisors said farmers and local deliveries are exempt and additional road audits will follow.
Salem Township supervisors voted unanimously on Feb. 24 to adopt Ordinance No. 2-2026, amending the township's Restricted Roadways Ordinance No. 1-2024 Exhibit A to add additional roadways to the township's weight-restricted highway, roadway and bridge list.
Supervisor Kerry Jobe said the change was prompted by resident complaints about heavy hauling on Quarry Drive. "It is considered local delivery," Jobe said in response to a question about whether a tractor-trailer returning a resident from work would be affected, adding that farmers are exempt from the weight restrictions.
The ordinance followed a report by resident Chad Shifko that "extreme amounts of dirt" were being hauled onto his property and that the activity was damaging Quarry Drive. Supervisor Todd Paulich said he visited the site and instructed the work to stop because the road is posted with a 10-ton weight limit and should have been bonded; the board found Quarry Drive was posted but not listed in the ordinance, and moved to correct that omission.
Resident Tim Kepple asked how officials would determine when a movement exceeds "local delivery" (for example, two loads versus six) and whether the ordinance would be enforced against Orrs, a pre-existing commercial operation. Jobe said Orrs is a pre-existing business and "we can't shut them down," and that officials distinguish a few trucks per day from many trucks when considering enforcement.
Resident Eric Hageder asked whether township roads have been fully audited for posting. Paulich said they have not completed a comprehensive audit and that additional roads would be added to the restricted list over time.
The board first approved a motion to discuss enacting the ordinance and then approved a separate motion to enact Ordinance No. 2-2026; both votes were unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.; the board scheduled a special meeting for March 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., and the regular March meeting for March 18, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Secretary Kelly Otto recorded the minutes.
