Salem Township advances waterline projects after LSA award and engineering hire

Salem Township supervisors on Jan. 21 approved steps to advance multiple waterline projects, including renewing a consulting retainer, accepting a state grant for Tucker Road and hiring engineering help for the Kennan Drive extension.

The board renewed Regola Consulting LLC’s monthly retainer at $2,500 to support grant applications and project readiness, and supervisors noted a separate state award of about $340,000 for an Apple/Tower Lanes waterline project. Kerry Jobe said that award will cover a large portion of that project’s roughly $400,000 cost.

The board also formally acknowledged a 2024 LSA grant award of $350,000 for the Tucker Road waterline extension and authorized the project scope to match that award. Jobe said moving awards between projects is difficult and the township will use the $350,000 for Tucker as far as it will go.

For Kennan Drive, the board approved a $12,000 proposal from Morris Knowles & Associates for engineering work. Todd Paulich said township crews plan to run a waterline from Kennan to Orrs with township equipment, hiring two or three part‑time workers for the project; he estimated work could take three to four months and hoped for a May start, while noting the line will begin as low pressure and it is unclear whether all residents must tap in.

Residents from Kennan Drive, including Greg Bosich and Char Neiport, said about 18 households have needed water since 2015 and flagged a cost estimate that rose from $188,000 in 2015 to more than $500,000 today. Kerry Jobe said the state will make the final funding decisions and that the township reapplied when grant timelines shifted.

All motions related to the consulting retainer, grant acknowledgment and engineering proposal passed unanimously.