Commissioners conducted routine business Dec. 12, approving the appointment of Kyle A. Russell to the position of warden of the county jail. Last week the board signaled approval of the appointment by voting for Russell’s appointment in a preliminary or first hearing vote.

Sarah Andrew was reappointed to the Aging and Adult Services Advisory Council while Patrick Palmer was appointed to the council. The votes were unanimous except for Commissioner Percy Dougherty, who was absent.

A third appointee, Robbie Matthews, was also approved but without the vote of Councilwoman Amy Zanelli, who voted against the appointment; she said she wasn’t convinced Matthew’s qualifications were suitable for the job.

The commissioners also approved leases of agricultural land with three farms to lease county land. This included a 10-acre plot east of Leaser Lake leased to Let Farms, Inc. with offices on Mantz Road in Germansville, Let Farms, Inc. who has an existing lease for the property, will pay $650 per year for the lease.

Also leased were seven acres at the intersection of Broadway and Cedarbrook Roads in South Whitehall Township to Weinhofer Farms, LLC of Whitehall. Weinhofer Farms will also lease 21 acres south of Lenhart Road in Whitehall Township and will pay $1,155 annually for the lease for both properties.

The Commissioner also approved a lease of Tract 1 through Tract 5 comprising 233 acres of the Seem Seed Farm to Dennis P. Trexler Farms/Leroy C. Stahler, Inc. with offices in Limeport, PA for $35,164 per year for Tracts 1 through 4 and $80 per acre for Tract 5.

Commissioners gave approval to a contract with William G. Sherr for title services in connection with Sheriff’s sales.

The contract with Magellan Behavioral Health of PA was approved by Commissioners for the fifth program year.

Commissioners also gave preliminary approval of a lease with Adams Outdoor Advertising for a 3.5-acre site near the northeast end of the Hamilton Street bridge. Adams will maintain an advertising sign on the site. They will pay $7,325 per year for the lease.

The county coroner will get a new Ford Explorer and replace obsolete equipment with new X-ray equipment as per an amendment of the 2018 – 2022 Capital Plan approved by the commissioners.

Harold J. Eyer was honored by the Lehigh County Commissioners on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Mr. Eyer was not in attendance for the bestowed honor.

Frank Gerlach, a case worker with the Office of Crises Intervention, thanked the commissioners for their support for the non-union employees during this year’s budget hearings.

“The Human Services Department is really struggling all over,” he said. “We’re on the front lines-we need all the help we can get.”

“Take care of people in Human Services,” said Gerlach. “Let’s take care of workers-look beyond the numbers. We have the same goals. Let’s work together and accomplish those goals.”

Commissioners also gave preliminary approval to salary levels for Lehigh County Row Officers.