Despite a last-minute request from Range Resources that North Strabane delay action on its oil and gas drilling ordinance, supervisors voted 4-0 last week to allow those operations as a conditional use.

Before the vote, solicitor Pat Smider said the Southpointe-based oil and gas drilling company had sent an e-mail to the board asking that it not only table the ordinance but also give the firm authorization to begin drilling one well in the township that was ready to begin operations.

He explained that the company wanted to allow the township to go through an initial drilling operation so that it could possibly re-evaluate its ordinance.

But the board unanimously agreed to proceed with the ordinance as drafted.

"I believe we've done our due diligence," board Vice Chairman Steve Motzer said, adding that he didn't think a "learn-as-you-go" approach was appropriate.

"I equate that to giving them a blank check and they can fill it in later," he said.

Supervisors Robert Balogh and Jeff Stanley added that if the ordinance needs to be tweaked as drilling operations begin, the board can take action then.

The ordinance permits oil and gas well drilling as a conditional use with other regulations specific to agricultural, residential and industrial zones. It also authorizes compressor stations and natural gas processing plants as a conditional use in the township's designated industrial districts.

Board Chairman Greg Sulc abstained from this vote and any vote related to the oil and gas drilling ordinance and did not participate in discussions because he is an employee of Range Resources.

The board also tabled approval of a contract for grading, site preparation and construction of a new public safety substation because the lowest responsible bid on the work was about $400,000 more than the township had budgeted.

Engineer Joe Sites requested that action be delayed so he could contact the bidder, obtain an itemized cost estimate and see what cost-saving measures could be taken.

The one-story, 6,500-square-foot facility off Johnson Road, near Meadows Racetrack & Casino, is to include two equipment bays, offices for police and fire personnel, a conference room, sleeping quarters for paid firefighters and a small outdoor recreation area with a basketball court.

The township had intended for the substation to be open by next summer. It was unclear whether the delay in awarding the construction contract would affect that timeline.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.