Emmaus Borough Council members voted 6-0 in favor of approving the budget for the 2016 fiscal year at the meeting held at council chambers Dec. 21. The budget is roughly $15 million.

Also passed was Ordinance 1134 which deals with taxes for the 2016 fiscal year. The residents of Emmaus will not have a tax increase.

It was noted by Borough Manager Shane Pepe, however, he received a sizable bill from the Lehigh County Authority Dec. 18. The bill, which is more than $117,000, is being presented to the borough for uncollected fees over a five-year period.

Borough Solicitor Jeffery Dimmich said the fact LCA submitted the bill “just a few days ago” and council passed the budget as well as the tax ordinance is “quite troubling.” Dimmich said because of this he will be looking at the matter very closely.

“They’re making the claim that because of their mistake and the city’s mistakes over a three-year period, they’re trying to play catch up and now we’re getting bills for their mistakes,” Pepe said.

Further discussion will take place after “everything is digested” and Dimmich looks into the situation more.

The planting of the tree on Alpine Circle was brought up again after being tabled at the last council meeting.

At the previous meeting, it was discussed whether or not to plant a tree on Alpine Circle or in Emmaus Community Park. The reason the tree would be planted on Alpine Circle was because the resident who purchased the tree previously had a dead tree removed from his property.

Councilman Brent Labenberg, who is a resident of Alpine Circle, said he went around and asked his neighbors what their opinions were on the situation. He said three neighbors wanted it planted on the street, four did not care if it was planted on the street or in Emmaus Community Park and one resident was not home.

Labenberg noted the neighbor who purchased the tree said he did not have a preference as to where the tree was planted.

Members of council voted 5-1 in favor of the tree being planted on Alpine Circle. Councilman Brian Holtzhafer opposed. Holtzhafer opposed the planting of the tree because the tree will be planted where the public works department dumps all the snow for the street, thus possibly causing a problem for snow removal in the future.

The Dec. 21 borough council meeting also marked Holtzhafer’s last night acting as a member of the council.

Holtzhafer has served as a member of council for the past eight years.

Council members gave Holtzhafer final words of praise and wished him the best of luck on his future endeavors.

Emmaus Borough Council President Lee Ann Gilbert presented Holtzhafer with a plaque inscribed: “In recognition of undividable dedication and service of the citizens of Emmaus, Borough Council, the Mayor and staff want to thank you for your eight years of loyalty, hard work and most of all, your friendship.”