Ross will pay less to resurface 13 roads this year than the township expected, Commissioner Dan DeMarco said.
Youngblood Paving, of Wampum, submitted the lowest of four bids, at $841,328.
Given the state of the economy and cost of fuel, DeMarco said he expected this year’s road paving program to cost more than $1 million.
None of the bids did — the highest was about $970,349, from A. Folino Construction, of Oakmont. Other bidders were Shields Asphalt Paving, of Valencia, $843,280, and Mele & Mele & Sons, of Braddock, $948,900.
The roads that will be worked on are:
• 12th Street, from 8th to 9th avenues
• 14th Way, from 4th Avenue to 2nd Street
• 2nd Way, from 2nd Street to end
• 6th Avenue, from Rochester Road to 9th Street
• 8th Avenue, from 9th to 12th streets
• 9th Street, from 7th to 8th avenues
• Maple Drive, from Hillcrest Drive to end
• Monroe Drive, from Washington Drive to end
• 7th Avenue, from 9th Street to end
• 16th Street, from 8th Avenue to Priscilla Drive
• 19th Way, from 12th to 13th streets
• Sylvania Drive, from Wood Drive to end
• Thompson Drive, from Harden Drive to Perry Highway
In other business
• Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve a day care facility at 7725 McKnight Road, a building previously home to G&G Fitness.
Commissioner Sarah Poweska voted against. Commissioners Chris Eyster and Haley Warden-Rodgers were absent.
Ranjeet Mullick, owner of Small World Early Learning & Development Centers, told township officials that the day care would serve 96 children with a staff of 15.
To address parking concerns, Mullick said they reached an agreement to use spaces at the nearby Taj Mahal restaurant and were working on one with owners of the adjacent parcel home to Laser Storm.
To prevent traffic from backing onto McKnight Road, Mullick said they will have a traffic supervisor on-site and will schedule drop-off times.
Mullick said he expects the day care to open by Sept. 1.
• Commissioners approved new regulations on massage therapy establishments.
Prompted by concerns over prostitution and human trafficking, the ordinance requires all massage therapy and alternative therapy businesses to register with and be licensed by the township. All therapists at a massage therapy business are required to be licensed by the state, while the township will license alternative therapy technicians.
An annual fee will not exceed $200, township Solicitor PJ Murray said.
The ordinance limits hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and prohibits those under 18 from being inside or receiving therapy unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
It does not allow customers to remain on the premises for more than an hour after closing, and the premises can’t be used as dwelling units.
Employees are required to be fully clothed. It is unlawful for therapists to touch or massage sexual or genital areas, or to expose their own.
• William Sula was named interim director of the township’s public works department.
Sula, previously an assistant director, replaces Mike Funk, who is retiring after 15 years with Ross, Manager Jessica Crawshaw said.
Commissioners also approved hiring a retiring Ross police sergeant to a new position.
Lawrence Wagner will be the township’s special projects coordinator. In that post, Crawshaw said he will “do any and all projects as assigned by the township manager.”
Wagner has been with Ross police since 1991. When he would retire and begin the new job were not known when commissioners approved the employment officer at their April 20 meeting.
Salaries for both had yet to be determined, Crawshaw said.
• Commissioners approved taking out a $500,000 loan that will go toward the nearly $750,000 replacement of part of the roof at the township’s municipal building and community center.
The three-year loan from First National Bank carries an interest rate of 3.83%.
The township announced on March 30 that Pennsylvania Roofing Systems had started work on the roof, and that the building would remain open while work is underway over six-to-eight weeks.
There are two sections to the building’s roof. The current work is on the flat part of the roof, at just over 16,000 square feet. Work to replace the curved roof over the gymnasium will not begin until the loan is paid off, according to Crawshaw.
• Commissioners approved selling three vehicles through the auction website Municibid.
Steven Krelis was the high bidder, $2,706, for a 2015 Ford Explorer on March 12; Jason Rimmer was the high bidder for a 2018 Ford F-150 on March 17; and BP Locksmith was the high bidder for a 2011 Ford F-550 on March 31.