Upper Milford Supervisors Choose new Township Engineer

The Upper Milford supervisors unanimously appointed a new township engineer on June 2, replacing T & M Associates of Bethlehem, which has been Upper Milford’s engineering firm for 11 years.

The supervisors chose Benchmark Civil Engineering Services Inc. of Allentown. Township Manager Dan DeLong said Upper Milford’s Engineering Consultant Selection Committee received 17 proposals from engineering firms and narrowed it down to three finalists, before recommending that the supervisors approve Benchmark Civil Engineering Services.

Supervisor Robert Sentner said Benchmark was the unanimous choice of the engineering selection committee. The supervisors had appointed the selection committee, consisting of Sentner, DeLong, Planning Commission member Matthew Hunter, Upper Milford resident William Weber and Brian Miller, planning coordinator for the township.

Sentner first raised the issue of whether the township should choose a new engineering firm during a Feb. 17 supervisors meeting. The supervisor was concerned that T & M Associates had submitted a high bid for a project in Upper Milford on two occasions, including an engineering fees estimate for the renovation of the Yeakels Mill Road bridge.

The supervisors subsequently decided on March 3 to advertise for proposals for other engineering firms. However, T & M Associates was advised that it could submit a proposal as well. In the end result, however, the supervisors accepted the recommendation of the selection committee and decided on a new township engineer.

Also on June 2, the supervisors awarded a construction project to replace the East Macungie Road culvert to Imperial Excavating and Paving of Allentown. The township had received six bids for the project, ranging from Imperial Excavating’s low bid of $59,726 to a high bid from Zgura Concrete Services of Emmaus of $104,833.

The township had budgeted an estimate of $70,000 for the culvert project, but now the project will be done for less money. DeLong said Imperial Excavating and Paving will aim to complete the project while school is out for the summer.

Due to a partial collapse of a culvert running under East Macungie Road in October 2010, a low point in the road has been reduced to one lane, with stop signs in both directions.

In other business, DeLong said the township received 65 applications to replace long-time township Secretary Kim Shaak, whose resignation took effect May 30. The township has changed the title of the position to better reflect the type of work done: township secretary/treasurer and office manager.

DeLong said he expects to choose six people to be interviewed, but he would prefer to have a supervisor involved in the interviews as well. Sentner agreed to participate in the interviewing process.