Dutch Dine, senior engineering outside plant project management with Windstream (formerly Alltel), recently met with Salem Township supervisors to discuss leasing 25 square feet of property to set up a broadband hub.

Dine said most of the legwork had already been completed and it was just a matter of getting township approval.

Township supervisors Ed Renwick and Larry Smith both voted in favor of setting up the cable.

Supervisor Larry Truitt was not present at the meeting.

After the deed is filed, Windstream will start setting up outside the township building, giving township residents within 18,000 feet of the hub access to high-speed Internet service.

In return, the township receives a one-time payment of $1,000 to lease the property and after installation of equipment, Windstream will landscape the property.

The township will put the money in the general fund for building maintenance.

Dine said Windstream is the largest rural telephone company and is making every effort to make high-speed Internet available to its rural customers.

Residents should expect the system to be available in the next three months, but weather may prove to be a factor in exactly when it is complete.

“We are really reaching out to rural areas, we want to be at 100 percent,” said Dine.

In other business, supervisors:

Held a moment of silence to honor the passing of former township supervisor Stanley “Bub” Klingler.

Formally approved the township’s 2009 budget.

Received a thank-you note from the Nickleville Presbyterian Church for use of the township building for a benefit dinner for David Hirsch Jr., which raised $3,500.

Read a thank-you note from a township resident thanking supervisors for a job well done in reference to winter road maintenance.

The next township meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5.

The re-organizational meeting will be held first followed immediately by the regular monthly meeting.