An article published in The Mercury by a local reporter on April 6th opened with the line, “The Township has quietly solicited bids for the construction of a new municipal complex on property it owns at the corner of Gilbertsville and Moyer roads.” In the opinion of The Upper Pottsgrove Journal, this statement, as well as the malicious use of the word “quietly,” presents a misleading impression that the Board authorized a bid without any discussion or public vote. The vote was held November 6th, 2024.
The Township has been actively discussing this site as a potential location for a new municipal complex since the property was officially acquired over a year ago. During public meetings, residents raised questions about visible survey stakes and flags on the land. In response, the Township openly explained that a feasibility study was underway, exploring whether the site could accommodate the municipal complex using the same design previously proposed for the Evan’s Tract (Smola Farm).
Subsequently, Boyle Construction was publicly approved by the Board of Commissioners as the project manager to further develop the site plan for bidding. In November 2024, the Board formally discussed and voted to seek construction bids once final plans were complete—a decision that was recorded in meeting minutes approved in December and made publicly available. The completed request for bid announcement was published in The Mercury on March 31, 2025.
Given this documented and transparent process, the suggestion that the project has moved forward “quietly” is simply inaccurate. The Board of Commissioners welcomes the sharing of information about this important project, but spreading misleading narratives or unfounded suspicion does a disservice to the community and undermines the public trust.
The Upper Pottsgrove Journal was established to provide residents with accurate information—even when the facts may be inconvenient. Misinformation about municipal projects and court matters has real consequences, including unnecessary costs to taxpayers. It is our goal to ensure the facts remain front and center.