Photo by Brent Addleman
Jones Twp. Supervisor Jim Elinski reviews the agenda for last night’s meeting. The Horner Road Bridge will be closed due to a recent failure of a state inspection.

By Brent Addleman

Editor

 WILCOX – Jones Twp. Supervisors have been informed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) that Horner Road Bridge will be closed as a result of the structure not passing an inspection that was conducted last Friday.
According to Chairman Jim Elinski, the bridge was closed due to unsafe measures. Signs will be erected and barricades will be put in place.
“They found some cracks in the beams,” Elinski said. “We are gonna close it down. We have to get some special barricades.”
The barricades were ordered last Friday and scheduled to arrive Wednesday, according to Supervisor Laurie Storrar.
Part of the plans submitted for replacement include pre-cast concrete beams and a six-inch deck that will be 18-feet wide.
The project, which isn’t being guaranteed by PennDOT, according to Elinski, would see an 80 percent funding share from PennDOT. Jones Twp. would have to pay the remaining 20 percent.
“Doing it this way, we stand a chance of getting 80 percent funding back from PennDOT,” Elinski said.
After further discussion, Elinki stated he wasn’t completely sure the township should go the proposed route.
“I don’t feel comfortable going this route with that expense,” Elinski said. “It just scares me to think that they won’t guarantee us their 80 percent, but then the next route they say they never turn anyone down. That’s the way things were in the 1990s. I think things are a little different out there now. They’re not going to be giving money away for a one-lane bridge. 
“I don’t think we are in a panic mode here to make a decision. It is going to be an inconvenience for people living out there. It’s out of our hands being shut down.”
In other business:
n Supervisors are having a slogan contest. The winning slogan will be placed on entrance signs into Jones Twp. The winning slogan will receive a $100 prize, which was donated to the township awhile ago. The deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 9. The winner will be named at the Thursday, Oct. 15 meeting.
n The fire department was given a communications tower they hope to erect in Rasselas. The department requested to use the township solicitor to work out details of a signed agreement needed to erect the tower. The supervisors approved the request.