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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Weisenberg board chooses Cetronia Ambulance

With the absence of Tom Wehr, fellow Supervisors Bob Milot and Linda Gehringer were charged with making the Weisenberg Township decisions for the night.

The minutes and the treasurer's report were approved before the duo attacked the rest of the agenda.

A recent letter concerning ambulance service was the hot topic for the night.

Northwestern Ambulance Corps forwarded a letter to the township requesting a donation of $50,000.

Discussion centered on which ambulance corps would be best at providing service to the township.

Cetronia Ambulance Service currently covers a major portion of the township and depending where the incident is located, Cetronia could get to the scene sooner than Northwestern.

Milot said when the Weisenberg Township Volunteer Fire Company station was built, an additional bay was constructed to house an ambulance, which could be made available for emergencies.

After discussion, the two supervisors, by resolution, decided to make Cetronia Ambulance the service provider for the entire township starting Jan. 1, 2015.

One of its ambulances with crew will be based at the fire company.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps CEO Larry Wiersch confirmed to The Press Oct. 22 via email an ambulance with crew would be stationed at the fire station 24/7.

"We look forward to the extension of services to the township as we have always served a portion of Weisenberg for years," Wiersch wrote. "Partnering with Weis-enberg fire will allow us to improve our services and life saving mission."

The Weisenberg board anticipates a better response time will be achieved. Residents affected by this change will be notified.

Supervisor Linda Gorgas spoke with The Press Oct. 22.

Gorgas said the board's decision to go with Cetronia Ambulance Corps was made after supervisors, Administrator Brian Carl and Emergency Management Coordinator Frank Bartholomew met with both representatives of Northwestern and Cetronia ambulance corps.

Gorgas said Kathy Van Allen came to the meeting without any financial documentation regarding the corps' request for the $50,000.

She also said the board was aware another ambulance corps had offered to assist Northwestern but this was allegedly denied by Kathy Van Allen.

"Who asks a municipality for $50,000 and then brings nothing to show us why they are asking for the money?" Gorgas asked. "Cetronia will cost us nothing, absolutely nothing.

"When we look at the numbers, we have to do what is right for the residents. Approximately 95 percent of our residents will get a faster response time."

Northwestern Ambulance Corps representative David Van Allen also spoke with The Press on Oct. 22.

"We need to let the people know we were making progress," Dave Van Allen said. "We were talking to other EMS and healthcare organizations to build some strength.

"We were looking for ways to share employees, expenses. This was all part of a multi-stage plan."

Dave Van Allen said he does not know what the next step is.

"We need to regroup," he said. "One-third of our foundation is gone. Weisenberg did not need to do this to protect themselves.

"We are trying to build a business in this economy and this was an unnecessary, devastating blow."

In other matters, William Beitler, Beitler Surveying, went before the board to request a waiver in the review of the Haaf Farms lot line change.

He asked the board to allow Upper Macungie Township to review the plan as the majority of the lot was in their township.

Supervisors agreed to this, conditional upon granting of right-of-way to Weisenberg Township on a short portion of Weiss Road located in the Township.

The Gehringer two-lot minor subdivision plan at 2439 Seipstown Road and acceptance of the planning module relating to this project were approved. This plan was also represented by William Beitler.

The Peter Psirigotis septic easement was discussed.

Psirigotis has property on Sechler Court and New Smithville Road. To obtain access to one of the lots, an easement must be granted across the other lot.

However, the existing septic system for the one lot is located within the 75' easement

Supervisors agreed to the easement location conditional upon finding a suitable replacement area on the lot..

The study on Old Route 22 to evaluate the condition of the highway was put on hold until next month.

Two proposals were submitted to Weisenberg and Greenwich townships one for $5,900 and the other for $4,250.

This amount would be split equally between the two townships based on road mileage.

This matter was discussed at previous meetings because of the upcoming construction on I-78.

Traffic will be re-routed onto Old 22, which will cause excessive wear on the roadway. This study is to evaluate the road and will be used after the detour is lifted to request compensation from Penn-DOT for damage done to the road.

A temporary mobile home permit was renewed for the 7330 Bausch Road property of Titus and Valerie Kauffman.

The mobile home is located on the property and is occupied by David and Dorothy Miller, relatives of the property owners.

Chief Scott Freeman of the Weisenberg Township Volunteer Fire Company told the board the new fire truck will be arriving the last week of October.

They are trying to sell the old truck but so far have had no offers. Freeman thanked the road crew for the work they performed at the fire station.

A portion of the black top driveway was repaired and some of the concrete pads in front of the station were fixed.

Freeman also noted he would not be fire chief next year. His term is up and a new fire chief will be elected.

Roadmaster Tony Werley and the road crew worked at the fire company for about two weeks on their project and poured a concrete floor in their pole barn at the maintenance complex.

Electric service is also being installed in the building.

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Editor Debra Palmieri contributed to this article.