A new pickleball court was discussed as the committee learns about other updates in town
By KRYSTAL NURSE
The Sun
At their Dec. 3 committee meeting, members of the Mantua Township Committee discussed and learned about changes in the township’s employees, roads and parks.
In public works, renderings are being drawn to accommodate a new pickleball court in the Chestnut Branch Park tennis courts. One mock-up was described by Steve Alexander, superintendent of public works, as taking half of a court and adding picnic tables and repairing existing cracks.
“Whatever we do, I think deputy mayor [Robert Zimmerman] wants us to move a little faster, that way we’re not talking about this next year too much,” said Mayor Peter Scirrotto. “I know it’s time-sensitive but try to hit the ground running.”
“I hate to see those courts close at the beginning of the spring season,” said Zimmerman. “I like the idea, I was speaking to a resident who is a retired admin who has been teaching pickleball for 30 years and he actually helped design the courts at Total Turf.”
Township Engineer Jon Bryson said he anticipates the paving on phase three of Tylers Mill Road to be completed by Dec. 12, barring any major weather events, after its milled. Temporary lane markings will be set up as Zone Striping, the subcontractor, is backlogged in projects due to recent wet weather. Bryson added he will push to get it done as quickly as possible because of the volume of traffic the road sees.
Police Chief Darren White provided the committee with several updates in the police department:
- Community service took place on Dec. 1 on Route 55, however, a mattress was found on the highway sometime after;
- The department is in the midst of filling several SLEO Class II and Class III positions;
- K-9 Boomer is expected to graduate Jan. 11, as he’s learned 25 odors, can track as far away as 2,500 yards and found guns that were fired three weeks ago.
In other news, the following resolutions were passed by consent:
- To officially mark Jan. 7 as the reorganization meeting, which will take place at 5 p.m.;
- To sell an affordable housing unit on 1362 Tristram Circle that will be deed-restricted for low- or moderate-income residents for a minimum of 30 years.
The next township committee meeting will be held on Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. in the Municipal Building. This will be the final committee meeting of the year.