In Case You Missed It

Here are a few things that happened around town this past week, in case you missed it.

In Palmer Township, municipal employees will no longer be allowed to talk on their cell phones or hand-held devices while operating municipal vehicles.  Concerns over distracted driving prompted the mandate, officials said. If caught violating, disciplinary action will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  There is no ordinance in place for drivers in Palmer. 

Over in Forks Township, the controversy continues over how much petty cash will be issued to the township Recreation Board. Township officials are in the process of revising the current outdated 1960 ordinance that created the board. But have gone back and forth over how much petty cash would be provided to the board. As it stands, the township finance manager, parks and recreation director and board treasurer are expected to come up with a recommended amount. The figure could be presented to supervisors at the Feb. 17 meeting.

Forks Township Supervisors also said no to all 12 companies who presented cost estimates for the new $3.7 million Public Works facility. Officials said all the proposals came back exceedingly higher than expected with the lowest proposal for general construction received at $4,350,000, and the highest was for $6 million. Add in the lowest proposals for mechanical, plumbing and electrical work and the estimated cost for the project is $5,293,470, according to Supervisor Robert Egolf.

And the winger is…I mean winner is for Big Woody’s fourth annual Superbowl Sunday Wing-Off competition, Justin Vernon of Kunkletown. The now three-time winner finished off 43 wings in five minutes to win the grand prize of $2,000.