It may be a new year, but COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc. As such, the Allen Township Board of Supervisors met Jan. 12 to discuss what steps to take leading into the new year.

Originally, the board met Sept. 8, 2020, and extended the disaster declaration to Dec. 31, 2020. Now that December has come and gone with no sign of the pandemic changing course, the board discussed another extension.

Supervisors decided, while it may not be financially necessary, the safest course of action would be to extend the declaration. Having the declaration in place would give the township tools to pursue financial help, should the need arise.

Instead of pushing it forward another couple of months again, the board decided to continue extending the declaration until the state of Pennsylvania cedes its own disaster declaration.

In other business, the Kopper Penny gas station intersection, Route 329 and Howertown and Weaversville roads, is overdue for a road widening. Currently, Allen Township owns the right of way, but this ownership will be transferred to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as part of the road construction.

In the meantime, PPL Electric is getting busy. PPL requested a temporary easement for the right of way to install new poles. PPL hopes to install the poles before the right of way gets transferred to PennDOT.