LANCASTER TWP — The Lancaster Township board of supervisors hired Andy Grooms as a full-time police officer at its Monday night board meeting.

Grooms is currently a part-time officer working about 32 hours per week, according to Kristopher Kniess, vice chairman of the board of supervisors.

Kniess said bringing Grooms to full-time would add an $11,000 expense, but it would make up for an approximate $16,000 expense of overtime pay, which the three full-time officers at Lancaster Township's police department were paid in 2018.

Grooms' switch to full-time begins April 1.

Another new appointment took place after John Vagias, who has served on the Western Butler County Authority (WBCA) Board for more than 30 years, resigned from his WBCA position.

The board appointed Dave Weber, who previously served on the Cranberry Township Area Sewer Authority, to take his place. Weber, who has lived in the township since October, was interviewed by Vagias and Authority Manager Autumn Heckathorn before the approval.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Joseph Plesniak thanked Vagias for his “many years of commitment and service” following the approval of his resignation.

In other township news, Four Springs Park construction will be under way soon.

DemEx provided the board with a status report estimating about 10 work weeks until the completion of the project. Two weeks will be spent on the walking trail, two on the entrance and parking lot, and six for the construction of the pond, which also requires an “extended period of dry weather.”

The board approved payment to DemEx of $8,077.55 to continue working toward the park's completion.

Other township maintenance will soon begin with road oiling. The board also approved a motion to advertise a road oiling project prepared by Dick Knapko, municipal services specialist of PennDOT.

The proposed project consists of a single tar/chip seal at an estimated cost of $68,046 from Highway Aid. This project is for 57,005 square yards of oil, and the proposed cost includes stone, oil and limited traffic control.

The roads to be treated are Little Creek Road from Yellow Creek to Crab Run; Crab Run from Little Creek to the township line; Woodlands Road from Crab Run to the township line; Ragan Road from township line to township line; Albert Drive from Sawyer; Dogwood Road from Pleasant Hill to Hufnagel; and American School from Scott Ridge to the township line.

Bids for the project will be accepted until 3 p.m. April 15, after which they will be read aloud and rewarded at 6 p.m.