A preliminary discussion was initiated between Lowhill Township and Lehigh County Authority at the supervisors' Oct. 2 meeting about transferring responsibility of the township's 43 public sewer customers.

With a population of 2,173, the township's rural status has a majority of on-site septic systems rather than public sewer hook-ups.

Township Administrator Brian Carl said it is in the township's best interest to turn sewer ownership over to the authority due to the aging infrastructure and long-term maintenance concerns.

"We are not sewer people," he said. "They [LCA] have a track record with this kind of thing."

Supervisors met with LCA's Chief Executive officer Aurel Arndt to listen to a brief summary of the authority's operation and any fees that would affect the board's decision.

Supervisors told Arndt they do not want to raise rates for the 43 existing public sewer customers in the township.

Arndt explained transferring ownership over to the authority would greatly reduce the financial burden of the township's aging sewage lines and would keep customers at their existing rate.

Presently, the township's wastewater is piped to Upper Macungie Township. Upper Macungie Authority is responsible for sending delinquent bills to customers, but Lowhill is still responsible for any maintenance on the infrastructure.

Vice Chairman George Wessner Jr. told Arndt he assumed the board would be presented with a proposal outlining regulations and costs for the transfer.

He requested he, Carl, and Township Solicitor Charles Waters meet with Arndt during a special meeting to discuss details of the possible transfer.

A date has not been set for the meeting.

In other matters, Chairman Richard Hughes announced the township received a letter of resignation from Roadmaster Karl Kressley on Sept. 29.

Details of the resignation were not discussed. Assistant Roadmaster Joseph Kalusky has taken over Kressley's responsibilities.

Kalusky reported township road crews have one day of grass mowing left and are preparing roads for winter.

Hughes asked Kalusky if it would be feasible to install a new flail mower, which has been sitting in storage, on one of the township's tractors as a solution to the aging Tiger boom mower.

Kalusky said they use the boom mower to cut back tree limbs and brush in the fall, but crews could use the flail mower in the spring for grass mowing.

Kalusky said he will take a day to see how much time is involved on the installation.

Richard Smith presented his solution to the runoff from the shared driveway on Wertman Road. Amith said he has been working with a landscaper and an engineer to come up with a design that will be affordable and permanent.

The proposed design includes 4 inches of stone compacted in preparation for a swell and a nine-inch catch box to divert the water and eliminate the build-up of debris at the bottom of the driveway; similar to a French drain.

"We are responsible for a design that will eliminate silt from getting into the road," said Smith.

Supervisors reviewed bids for the muli-municipal salt contact. Each year one of the townships involved take turns reviewing and selecting the lowest bidder.

Included are North Whitehall, Washington, Weisenberg, Heidelberg, Lynn and Lowhill.

Of the five bids reviewed, two indicated they were unable to deliver a bid.

Supervisors agreed to select Cargill, a bulk rock salt supplier with a yard in Northampton, at a bid of $72.59 per ton delivered.

The meeting concluded with the announcement Lowhill Township will have Trick-or-Treat Night 6-8 p.m. Oct. 25.