by Robert Holt
BRIDGEPORT — At their May 19 meeting, the Logan Township Council authorized the acquisition of three new automated side-loading 35 cubic yard refuse trucks.
Logan accepted a bid of $817,092 for the vehicles from Granturk Equipment Co. Inc.
Logan Township first started collecting its trash in-house in 2010, and counts Harrison Township, Swedesboro, and Woodstown among its shared service agreements. Wenonah and East Greenwich Township will be joining them next year.
The new vehicles will feature an automated lubrication system, and front and rear disc brakes. Even with the purchase of the three trucks, Logan still expects to save money with its trash collection operations.
In other resolutions, Council granted a permit to the Bridgeport Speedway for a fireworks display on July 2. And Joseph B. Tull Sr. was appointed as Fire Sub-Code Official and Inspector for a four-year term beginning July 1.
Council also accepted letters of resignation from Darryl Rhone as a member of the Logan Township Zoning Board, and from Marjorie Andrews as a member of the Township Environmental Commission.
Logan Township Mayor Frank Minor said that Phyllis Atkinson, who is retiring as Logan Township Fire Marshall/Fire Official would be sorely missed. Minor described Atkinson as “a professional beyond all quarters of professionalism.”
Elsewhere, Council approved a request by the Old Colony District Boy Scouts to hold a 5K Run/1 Mile Walk at Township Line Road Park on Saturday, Oct. 31.They also granted a temporary use permit to Uptown Bakeries and J&J Snack Foods for an employee safety picnic on June 17.
In his police report, Logan Township Department Captain Robert Leash listed 1,502 calls for service by the department in April, along with 34 adult arrests, and 289 summonses being issued.
Leash also mentioned that he, Sgt. Joseph Lombardo, and Chief James Schmidt had attended a cultural diversity program at Salem Community College. Leash said the force attends the program about every two years.
In Public Works, Superintendent Mike Riley reported that his department had finished mulching township properties, adding that community grass cutting was in full swing. Riley reminded Council that Public Works was now in their second year of doing automated yard waste, and it was working out very well.
And in Council updates, Councilmember Stephen Dougherty said that he had spoken with New Jersey Transit regarding bus shelters to be installed at Center Square Road and Beckett Road. Dougherty indicated that NJ Transit would install the shelters this summer.
“They’re going through some bureaucratic business right now, but they’ll be reaching out to us in June about when the work would begin,” Dougherty explained. “It’ll be nice to be protected from the weather when you’re waiting there a long time.”
Also, Minor asked the Council whether there was a way to analyze the township’s road maintenance program. The mayor wanted a comparison on what the community had spent versus what they had saved.
Administrator Lyman Barnes noted that the roadway management program had been going well. But Minor commented, “Any program that has gone on for 10 years needs to be revisited.”
“We have had our plan for 10 years, and I wanted to put the idea in your heads now,” he added.
