Lehigh County Commissioners had a second reading of the $133,755,495 Lehigh County Capital Plan for 2018-22, and then passed several motions to amend the bill at their July 12 meeting.

The capital plan, according to explanatory text, is a policy statement, not a budget or an appropriation.

A vote on the plan is expected July 26.

“The Capital Plan kind of kicks off the budget season,” Commissioner Michael Schware said in an interview.

In other matters, the Soldier’s and Sailor’s monument at the intersection of Hamilton Boulevard and 7th Street, Allentown, will receive a granite base and marker with a $9,500 grant awarded by the commissioners to the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council.

Lehigh County police departments will receive some new equipment and new training from other funds allocated by commissioners from the Lehigh Gaming Grant Program.

Coopersburg was given $37,237 for an equipped police cruiser and $5,470.50 for a car-mounted license plate reader.

Upper Macungie Township police will get $42,707.50 for two license plate readers.

Fountain Hill police will receive $106,084 for a patrol vehicle, for training and outfitting three part-time officers, some “imaging” face masks, four sets of self-contained breathing apparatus, and four sets of turnout gear.

Salisbury police will get $118,363 to “support 325 hours of additional police patrols, a patrol vehicle, an LED speed sign, two mobile data terminals and car camera systems and other equipment.

Disbursal of the funds is contingent upon execution of grant agreements.

The money was generated by the Sands Casino, South Bethlehem, for communities impacted by the casino.

In other business, commissioners approved a waiver to the regular bidding process to resolve unspecified issues with the HVAC equipment at the new coroner’s facility in Cetronia, South Whitehall.

Problems with the HVAC system have delayed the permanent certificate of occupancy.

Construction manager for the medicolegal center, Boyle Construction Inc., has agreed, according to explanations in the bill to provide the necessary construction management and minor carpentry at no charge.

Boyle received quotes for the work from vendors but because of a time issue, the Department of General Services wants to expedite the project by using those vendors instead of putting the jobs out for bid.

The approved bill did not include a monetary figure.

Also, commissioners appointed Commissioner-at-large Amanda Holt to the Lehigh County Conservation District.

Commissioner Geoff Brace announced homelessness among Lehigh County veterans is now at a “functional zero,” meaning for at least one day there were no homeless veterans in Lehigh County.

Brace credited the work of the staff of Veteran Affairs Office of Lehigh County headed by Director Thomas Applebach and the Lehigh Valley Homeless Veteran Task Force for this accomplishment.

Brace said commissioners endorsed a plan brought to them by the task force which has “essentially eliminated homelessness among veterans in Lehigh Valley.”

He said the effort was initiated by former President Barack Obama’s administration through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.PRESS PHOTO BY