STAFF/ANDREW HARRISON

Hopewell Township officials adopt bond ordinance for capital improvement projects

Township Committee members in Hopewell Township have unanimously adopted a bond ordinance that appropriates $5.59 million for several capital improvement projects.

Committee members took the action on Feb. 18. The ordinance authorizes bonds in the amount of $4.83 million to be issued.

Mayor Kristin McLaughlin, Deputy Mayor Michael Ruger, Committeeman Kevin Kuchinski, Committeewoman Julie Blake and Committeewoman Courtney Peters-Manning voted “yes” on a motion to adopt the ordinance.

The township’s road program will be the highest estimated project cost. Officials said the program is designed to address the most severe or priority one roads in disrepair. Officials have appropriated $2.6 million for the work. The township anticipates receiving a grant from the state Department of Transportation in the amount of $504,361 for the road program.

The Chip Seal program will also receive a boost from the bond ordinance. Chip sealing is a pavement maintenance practice that extends pavement life and provides a good driving surface.

According to officials, it is a method of a thin heated asphalt liquid sprayed on a road surface. The program is estimated to cost $1.2 million, most of which would be covered under the bond ordinance.

The ordinance will also allow officials to purchase several vehicles for the public works department. The vehicles include a jet vac truck, a loader with a claw and a road mower. Officials estimate that cost to be $495,000.

Additional capital improvement projects include a signal installation at Federal City and Bull Run roads; site and architectural planning for the community and senior center; the acquisition of utility vehicles and equipment for the police department; and the installation of a pedestrian crossing sign at Penn RH and Penn Harbourton Road.