The West Penn Township supervisors are offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person stealing street signs.

The latest batch of signs was taken from Zion Stone Church Road - but the thief, or thieves, have hit other areas of the township.

Signs have even been reported missing from neighboring municipalities, according to township police Chief James Bonner.

“I called every scrap yard, and (the signs) have not been scrapped,” Bonner told supervisors during Monday’s board meeting.

Supervisors’ Chairman Anthony Prudenti wondered if “kids” are taking the signs.

He said that signs with the names of roads have been taken, along with speed limit and other signs.

“They didn’t just take the signs; they took the whole post,” Supervisor Glenn Hummel noted.

Also during the meeting, the township received three bids for two scrap vehicles. Supervisors accepted the highest bid of $1,000 from Harry’s U-Pull It near Hazleton.

A short meeting to discuss the Community Development Block Grant program was held before the supervisors’ meeting.

Ron Zimmerman, Schuylkill County grants manager, was on hand to discuss community needs that can be met with the state funding.

West Penn expects to receive $98,000 this year.

At least 70% of the funds must be used to benefit low- and moderate-income residents, and eligible projects include water and sewer line replacement and improvements; housing rehabilitation and construction; improvements to community facilities and demolition.

“They are just some of the projects we can do,” Zimmerman said.

He noted that a CDBG project to create an ADA pathway at the J.E. Morgan Park is underway.

Prudenti asked if the funds could be used for road repairs.

Zimmerman said it depends on whether the roads are located in financially distressed areas.

“Unfortunately a lot of projects in West Penn Township aren’t eligible, because the community is not a low- to moderate-income area,” he said.

Written comments concerning the needs of the community, proposed CDBG activities, the prior use of funds, as well as the CDBG program in general, may be submitted to Schuylkill County, CDBG Grant Manager, 401 N. 2nd St., Pottsville, PA 17901 or Zimmerman at rzimmerman@schuylkillcountypa.gov.