What a difference a year makes.

Last year at this time, Eldred Township struggled to pass a budget with no tax increase while anticipating enormous legal bills in the continuing Nestle water extraction fight.This year, Eldred passed a budget with no tax increases, holding steady at 9.5 mills, with a lower expectation of overall costs to run the township.A 45-minute discussion ensued during Wednesday's supervisors meeting over whether or not the township should train current township employees to take over for a retiring septic testing technician or if the township should just turn over the responsibility to the township engineers at Hanover Engineering."The sewage enforcement office will train, supervise and inspect," Clausen said. "That way we will not be raising fees for a sewage permit."According to Chairwoman Mary Anne Clausen, the township would make back the cost of the training within two to three years.Supervisors Joann Bush and Gary Hoffman both raised numerous concerns, including where the new technicians would get materials, who would be doing their current responsibilities while they are performing the testing and workers' compensation insurance.If perc testing were turned over to Hanover, permit fees would rise from $200 to $450 per septic.Clausen let the motion die on the floor and agreed to review the matter further and revisit it at the January supervisor's meeting.The township is also considering an amendment to the zoning ordinance that defines animal husbandry uses within the township and clarifies the prohibition of agricultural product processing in the township.A copy of the proposed ordinance can be obtained at the township building. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 before the regular supervisor's meeting to discuss the ordinance.The township will be applying for a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Multi Modal Transportation Grant for the replacement of the bridge on Gower Road South. The request is in the amount of $323,400.In November, the township opened bids for the air conditioning system for the community center. The bids were higher than the township anticipated. The matter was tabled until Wednesday's meeting.Hoffman made a motion to reject all of the bids, stating that the township would look into other possible air conditioning options. The board agreed.