The Eldred Township supervisors accepted a bid from Asphalt Maintenance Solutions in Emmaus for road patching materials at their meeting on Wednesday night.

AMS was the lowest bidder with 50,000 gallons of oil for about $3.20 per gallon.

Frank Fehlinger, the roadmaster for Eldred Township, updated the supervisors on some projects and suggested some equipment that he thought would be good for the Public Works Department to have on hand.

As far as projects, Fehlinger said he has searched for companies that can install an electric gate and found one locally. The Lehigh Valley Fence Co. in Bath can do the work for between $15,000 and $20,000.

“There is a lot involved,” he said.

The work would include running electricity to the gate, installation of a keypad on the outside and inside, and 20 fobs. The township needs two more quotes before it can make a decision on which company to hire.

Fehlinger said he also talked to several companies about renting a Trackhoe, which is an excavator-type machine. The township needs one for cleanup of building materials behind the municipal building.

He said he asked to rent one for two weeks, which is 80 hours of work.

Bruce N. George Paving and Excavating said they could rent one for $12,000 and provide an operator of the equipment. Hertz quoted $11,745, but did not provide an operator. And Best Line gave a quote of $6,368 for four weeks. The fee included insurance and Best Line will haul it to the township and pick it up at the end of the rental period.

“Do we have a month’s worth of work,” asked Gary Hoffman, the chairman of the supervisors.

Fehlinger said he is actually concerned about losing valuable work time due to rain.

The supervisors approved going with Best Line and will rent the Trackhoe for a month.

Fehlinger also located a 2006 6-ton roller to purchase. The township usually rents one each year for $10,000, because tar and chip work on the roads is needed every year.

A new one costs about $170,000, but this one is $28,900. It is in Rochester, New York, but it is the closest to Pennsylvania. He has also found rollers for sale in Texas, California and Australia.

This one has 2,397 hours on it, but that might include hours it was sitting during a work day.

Silfies said, “If we rent one every year, in two years, we’re paying $20,000; in three years, it’s $30,000. If we keep renting, it’s just more and more money. We do a lot of tar and chipping each year.”

Supervisor Scott Clark suggested that they go up to Rochester and take a look at the equipment to see if it’s worth buying. Silfies and Hoffman agreed that a road trip would be a good idea.

Hoffman also announced that Fehlinger has resigned from his job. The supervisors accepted his resignation with regret. Fehlinger’s last day with the township will be May 13, but he said he is willing to lend a hand any time the township needs help.

Hoffman said the township is also looking for a summer intern to work in the township office. Anyone, including a high school student, who would like to apply should contact Ann Velopolcek in the township office.

Other business

The supervisors approved the following:

• A set of four LED light fixtures for the township municipal building for $290.

• A donation of $500 to the Parks Committee for flowers and bulbs.

• Joining the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance with a membership fee of $275;

• Schedule a workshop with the fire department to discuss the proposed Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Tax Credit ordinance.

• To grant an extension to Dollar General until Oct. 31, because they have not yet received their Highway Occupancy Permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.