The Lower Towamensing Township supervisors decide to purchase software to assist in the billing for garbage and eventually sewer. The software is available through Diversified Technology and costs $9,139.

Supervisor chairman Brent Green asked the township secretary Christine Wentz if she thought this software was needed.

“$9,000 is a lot of money for software,” he said.

Wentz replied that it has been needed for a long time and will pay off in the long run. The supervisors also approved the purchase of a new desktop computer for $1,159.

The supervisors discussed the possibility of offering dental and vision coverage to township employees. Wentz told the supervisors that two of the four employees have dental and vision coverage through their spouses, but two others do not have any coverage.

Supervisor Jay Mullikin said he doesn’t think vision coverage is worth the expense, since glasses can be purchased inexpensively at vision centers.

Green said he was the one who brought up the idea of the coverage, but now thinks the township should hold off, investigate the coverage available, and revisit the topic at a later date.

Also on the agenda is the purchase of a dump truck. Green said he would prefer for the township to get a dual-axle dump truck, but also wants to stay below $130,000. He has been talking with dealers for Peterbilt, Freightliner and Mack. Although he really likes the Mack trucks, he thinks they are out of the price range for the township at nearly $200,000.

Green has narrowed it down to a 330-horsepower Peterbilt truck and a 475-horsepower Freightliner. He said the 330-horsepower might not be enough to get up some of the township hills, but the 475-horsepower is more than the township needs.

“Whatever we go with, we’re going to have to be comfortable with the dealership,” he said.

Although the supervisors did not make a decision on which truck to purchase, they did decide to sell two single-axle trucks and use that money to go toward the purchase of the new truck and an older used truck. The township has a 2001 dump truck and a 1995 dump truck that would be placed for sale.

Green said he saw a single-axle dump truck on Municibids that he would like to get for the township. Mullikin agreed with him that they should look into it. Supervisor Ron Walbert was not at the meeting.

The supervisors decided to try a new cleaning company. They received information from Dynamite Cleaning and Floor Care in Slatington and Dapper. They chose Dynamite.

The two companies are comparable in price, but Dynamite doesn’t charge extra to do windows. Their price for cleaning the office once a month is $175 and the same for cleaning the recreation center on an as-needed basis.

The supervisors decided to give them a try for three months, and if they like the result then they will keep them. They do not have to sign any contract committing to a particular length of time.