It was no surprise flooding was a running topic at the Aug. 11 meeting of Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors.

Water inundation at Indian Trail Park and on numerous roads throughout the township due to Tropical Storm Isaias led to a discussion as to how much responsibility the township has to mitigate these problems. Though officials feel they would like to help everyone, they say doing so would raise taxes unreasonably.

Township employees will, however, be cleaning swales, drains and culverts and cleaning up debris that has been pushed out of forested areas due to excess water.

In a related topic, supervisors heard from residents of Primrose Lane who feel the actions of a neighbor may have led to the drainage problems they have had to deal with lately.

According to several residents from the area, the offending party has allegedly been using a bulldozer to clear trees and create ATV trails on the land he owns above their homes. The result has been unprecedented runoff affecting several homes in the area.

Township officials said the owner should not be logging without a permit nor operating heavy equipment without a permit. They suggested the residents being affected by this should call Northampton County Conservation District to see if any permits were applied for. Once the conservation district is involved, they will know what permits, if any, are or were necessary.

If the owner is in violation, the owner will need to get the proper permits and retrofit any changes he made to mitigate the flooding issue. Supervisors added the zoning officer would have to do her due diligence as well.

In other news, the municipality took another step toward governing short-term rentals. By adopting Resolution 2020-10 - declaring Lehigh Township zoning ordinances substantially invalid regarding the use of short-term rentals and proposing a curative amendment - the township said what was once allowable is not OK anymore.

The zoning board and the planning commission will work together to write a new ordinance governing short-term rentals and addressing where in the community they will be acceptable.

In addition, supervisors made it clear Turkey Hill’s building plan changes will not hold up the work that needs to be done on the Cherryville intersection, citing the fact the grant needs to be used by June 1, 2021.

Friendly Food Mart, at the intersection of Routes 248 and 946, has requested to hold a liquor license transfer hearing. The board approved a motion to retain an attorney to represent the township in the matter.

Township management said they have been receiving complaints of trucks using Cherryville Road and exiting on to farmette roads rather than coming out on Blue Mountain Drive. The board would prefer to have no trucks on Cherryville Road and also mentioned new signage would require a rather costly study.

Supervisors will meet again Aug. 25.