The main topics of discussion at the June 17 virtual South Whitehall commissioners’ meeting were several motions related to improvements to the township’s largest community park - Covered Bridge Park along Wehr Mill Road.

Director of Township Operations Randy Cope said the park’s master plan was first approved in 2014.

The plan is being supported by a $250,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, $350,000 in open space impact fees and $15,000 in local sponsorships.

The first motion was to award a bid for the park’s playground area concrete project, which will handle sidewalks and perimeter edging, in addition to one alternate bid for textured stamping on the play area edging.

Cope expects the project to be completed this autumn.

During the comment period, Commissioner Diane Kelly said although she supported the project, the timing was a concern.

She asked why the project would need to be started over the summer while community members are using the park for recreation, particularly during COVID-19 social restrictions.

She also voiced concerns about the financial impact on the township’s budget due to coronavirus uncertainties.

“What would be the hardship of postponing this, keeping our park the way it is for the enjoyment of our residents, and looking at this again … next spring, maybe, when things get back to normal?” Kelly asked.

Cope said a project delay would be “kind of a disappointment,” noting the project will not interrupt access to the park or interfere with current playground or recreational activities.

Additional delays would also result in increased costs for material, equipment and bids, he said.

Additionally, Cope explained the funding for the park project was already earmarked and allocated, and the DCNR grant will expire in 2022.

Cope also said given the status of the pandemic economy, an extension may not be granted.

Commissioner Mike Wolk also asked about potential financial impact and asked to see the estimated COVID-19 budget impact, discussed during a May board meeting, before voting on the motion.

“I support the project entirely,” Wolk said. “I question the timing. We don’t know where we are exactly with regard to the pandemic. I’d like to see that prior to voting yes on that.”

Finance Director Steve Carr said the updated information had not yet been presented because the financials and budget adjustments had been better than expected.

He had no reservations about completing the project.

Commissioner Matthew Mobilio voiced his support for completing the project on-schedule, calling the current play area an “eyesore.”

“We’re not bulldozing the entire park,” Mobilio said. “We are taking down a small, designated area for smaller children to make it better.”

He said with plans in place and funding already allocated, “there’s no reason other than fear and speculation” about finances which may or may not come true.

“Let’s do the project now,” Mobilio said.

“The park is already shut down, in part because of COVID. It is the best time to do it.”

Commissioner Joe Setton agreed, saying the new playground would be beneficial to the township’s children.

“They need it; they need it now,” Setton said. “They need it during the pandemic. That is the joy and the relief they will have during these hard times.”

In a 3-2 decision, with Wolk and Kelly voting no; Mobilio, Setton and board President Christina “Tori” Morgan voting yes, the bid was awarded to T. Schiefer Contractors Inc. for $103,384.

The second park-related motion sought permission to purchase the necessary play equipment to complete the project from Playworld Systems/George Ely Associates for $407,096.

Cope noted the total cost includes equipment installation, which will begin after the concrete work is completed, and deliveries would be within 4-6 weeks.

The motion passed in a 3-2 decision along the same voting lines.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a motion to grant a trail easement agreement with Stanley C. and Jeffery G. Breininger and Melodie L. Luther to install a perpetual easement, in addition to a 10-foot wide paved trail, on their property along the Jordan Creek, and for $6,000 in compensation.

Cope said the easement agreement was in support of the Jordan Creek Greenway project between Wehr Mill Road and Cedar Crest Boulevard for which the township had received a $150,000 DCNR grant.

The is first of several easement agreements to complete the project.

During the correspondence period, Community Development Director George Kinney said the township’s outdoor dining resolution, adopted June 3 to allow eateries to operate exterior dining areas, was working well, with three restaurants already securing approval.

In his report, Police Chief Glen Dorney reported 805 reports were handled in May, down from 1,131 this time last year.

The largest number of calls was for EMS, at 194.

Dorney also said crime reports are significantly reduced, with only 65 reported crimes and 31 arrests in May, compared to 121 and 48, respectively, in 2019.

Morgan noted that the township’s newly-formed Green Advisory Committee voted in officers and had its first meeting.

She said additional information would be given to the public shortly.

Under old business, the board discussed having a public workshop to collect information on the Wehr’s Dam rehabilitation program, as well as to discuss possible options to preserve the dam as a historical site.

Lastly, Manager Renee Bickel said the township was exploring different options to begin holding in-person meetings, hopefully by the end of July or beginning of August.

She said if attendance limitations are still in place, the meetings would continue to be virtually streamed.

The next board of commissioners meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 1.