In the heart of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, lies Upper Mount Bethel Township. Spread across 107 miles of roads, this rural community is home to 7,000 residents and is known by some as the gateway to the Poconos. The picturesque township is managed by a dedicated team of public servants who work tirelessly to maintain infrastructure, support residents, all while navigating the ever-changing landscape of municipal management.
The township’s team includes Cindy Beck, the office secretary, and Troy Bartron, an equipment operator and mechanic. Troy offered plenty of insight into the world of rural municipal governance and the innovative strategies employed to ensure the best possible outcomes for the community.
Preserving History and Creating a Community Park
On one side of the township are the Pocono Mountains, also called the Poconos, hence the gateway nickname. The mountains are made up of beautiful forests, lakes, and valleys. The beautiful display of nature extends from there all the way out to Upper Mount Bethel Township. On the other side is the Delaware River, which has historic roots dating back to the founding of the country. Surrounded by nature, there’s no wonder the township looks quite scenic.
There’s a 60-acre scenic park residents enjoy, which is open year-round. Residents often put on parades for holidays like Memorial Day or July 4. When not celebrating, there’s a vineyard to visit, along with some breweries.
There’s no question Upper Mount Bethel Township’s commitment to its residents extends beyond the realm of fleet maintenance and asset management. The township is also actively engaged in preserving its rich history and creating new amenities for the community to enjoy. One significant project currently underway is renovation of the 60-acre park, which was once a thriving dairy farm.
“Right now we’re doing a major sewer septic system installment in our park. We have approximately a 60-acre park for the people of Upper Mount Bethel Township. And it’s been a long time coming with bathrooms and a septic system for our park.” - Troy Bartron
With the township’s limited finances, this project relies on a combination of grants, donations, and township funds.
Cindy Beck and Troy Bartron from Upper Mount Bethel Township
Troy Bartron and more of the Upper Mount Bethel Township crew
Ash Borer Kill Trees and Impact Public Safety
Naturally, managing a rural community is not without its challenges. Upper Mount Bethel Township has faced its fair share of obstacles, including severe weather events that have impacted road maintenance schedules.
One of the most significant challenges in recent years has been the aftermath of a severe ash borer infestation, which killed countless ash trees throughout the township. The dead trees pose a significant risk to public safety and infrastructure, as they are prone to falling onto roads and power lines. The township has had to divert significant resources to address this issue, which has impacted their ability to tackle other projects, for example, their preservation master plan.
“We do have one road that we're going to shave the bank because it's very steep and we get a lot of trees falling. In this area here also we have a lot of ash trees that constantly fall. They were ridden with a disease and every ash tree in our area has died, probably two, three years ago.”
“It's very severe. There was a bug, an ash borer, that came through and killed all these trees. So that's an ongoing project, but typically we have our projects picked out through the year between paving, mowing, and then cutting shoulders, and then we do a road treatment which we call it tar and chip.” - Troy Bartron
Fleet Maintenance and Management
Upper Mount Bethel Township excels in the maintenance and management of its fleet and equipment. With a team of skilled mechanics like Troy, the township has developed a robust preventive maintenance schedule to ensure their vehicles and equipment remain in top condition.
For heavy equipment like loaders and backhoes, the township conducts regular service every 500 hours of operation. Trucks, on the other hand, undergo preventive maintenance every 4,000 to 5,000 miles, or as needed based on driver reports. This approach has helped minimize downtime and extend the lifespan of the township's assets.
"We're still seeing some issues because, you know, we're looking at the future equipment right now and we want to maybe rent or lease equipment for jobs we're doing. And we can't even get that type of equipment, you know, they're just not available." - Troy Bartron
When issues arise that cannot be addressed in-house, Upper Mount Bethel Township has cultivated strong relationships with local dealers and mechanics who provide prompt, reliable service. This network of support is crucial for a rural township, where access to specialized repair services may be limited.
A beautiful day at a Community Park in Upper Mount Bethel Township
Navigating Supply Chain Issues
One striking example of Upper Mount Bethel Township's innovative asset management is their recent sale of a brand new 2025 Mack truck. The vehicle had just 56 miles on it and sold for $200,000! As Troy explained, the decision to sell the truck was not made lightly. The township ordered several trucks years in advance to replace their aging fleet, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a strike at Mack, the delivery of those vehicles was significantly delayed. When the 2025 truck arrived earlier than expected, the township found itself in a position where selling the vehicle was the most fiscally responsible choice.
“We do a lot of road work and our oldest trucks are 2007s, you know, with over 100,000 miles on them, costing us a lot of money to keep them together.”
“Well, since COVID, it's been so hard to get equipment, whether it be a truck or a loader, you know, cab and chassis.”
“And we also purchased other equipment that failed on us sooner than we thought. So with that being said, our only option was to sell one of the surplus trucks. So that way we would keep our equipment fund equal, you know, for the rainy day fund type thing.” - Troy Bartron
Thankfully, by relying on Municibid for this sale and others, the township has been able to maximize returns on taxpayer investments and adapt to the challenges posed by supply chain disruptions.
2025 Mack truck sold by the Upper Mount Bethel Township
Innovation in Surplus Asset Management
On the other hand, divesting of their surplus has not been a major problem. Liquidation has been made easier through resources like Municibid.
“I worked at several municipalities where I was before. We would advertise it in a local paper and get bids that way, which cost us sometimes more money than what we're trying to sell was worth. Depends on the equipment.”
“And then at the same time, they used to have combined municipal auctions where local municipalities would get together, bring their equipment to one location, hire one auctioneer, and then they would sell it that way. Once every two years or every five years. But then, same thing, if you didn't have a reserve on your equipment or if it's an absolute sale, you couldn't protect your equipment.”
“It made it difficult for people to bring something that... Just say, for instance, you wanted $5,000 for it and it only sold for $1,000, you know what I mean? So how do you come back to the board and say, that's all we got for it?” - Troy Bartron
Now, the Upper Mount Bethel Township serves as an example for streamlining the sale of surplus while maximizing funds. The municipality is making the most on returns of taxpayer investments while ensuring that surplus equipment finds new life in other municipalities or private enterprises.
Conclusion
Upper Mount Bethel Township's story is one of innovation and dedication to community. Through Troy and Cindy’s insights, other rural municipalities can gain a deeper understanding into the challenges or opportunities they face, along with creative strategies to employ while navigating the ever-changing landscape of government surplus.
Whatever you decide to do as a municipality, Troy is certain selling surplus through Municibid is a must.
“I highly recommend going this route because it really doesn't cost the municipalities anything, which is great. The buyer pays the fees and it's very simple to take pictures and list your equipment. There's nothing difficult about it at all.
The website's very user-friendly, for both parties, people looking at equipment and versus people selling equipment.” - Troy Bartron
Looking to sell your municipal fleet or equipment? See for yourself the results Municibid can give to your municipality, create your seller account today.
