By Sarit Laschinsky

Special to The Press

During the public comment period of their Aug. 13 board meeting, Lynn Township supervisors were presented with a request to expand the township’s Internet infrastructure.

Amie Graham proposed the expansion on behalf of numerous other residents.

She said there have been ongoing issues with Internet coverage in some areas of the township including along Fort Everett and Springhouse roads and Gypsy Moth Drive.

Graham said Internet is essential for tasks such as home schooling, remote work and telemedicine.

She said Blue Ridge Communications had been contacted in 2018 about extending coverage and residents were given estimates for above and below-ground Internet extensions.

Graham explained there are currently 28 properties looking for expanded service but 30 or more dwellings are needed for aboveground service, and 50 for underground.

She said Blue Ridge’s estimated cost to reach Gypsy Moth was around $40,000.

Graham said, however, several grants were available for expanding infrastructure and projects associated with COVID-19, and the township had automatically been set to receive a certain allocation of funding under one grant.

She spoke with the office of state Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, and Frank Kane, director of the Lehigh County Department of Community and Economic Development, who reportedly said within two weeks, Lynn Township would be allotted some money from the county’s $33 million in COVID-19 relief.

Graham said residents were in contact with KIT Communications about expanding Internet coverage through a wireless bridge, which costs only a few thousand dollars compared to 10s of thousands for entrenching or other Internet installations.

She said the system could be worked into a hybrid system.

Graham added if the infrastructure were to be installed via grant money, it would technically be owned by the township which could benefit by leasing or selling the system outright to Blue Ridge to maintain.

She said Blue Ridge would have an interest in the hybrid system, as it would increase its client base through a wireless model the company does not otherwise offer.

Graham also asked the board to look into collecting estimates and putting out bids to Blue Ridge and other subcontractors for potential costs to put in the wireless bridge or other Internet systems.

Chairman Justin Smith said Blue Ridge currently does not operate peer-to-peer connections and he was unsure whether the company would be interested in looking at a hybrid system.

He asked Graham to contact Blue Ridge about possible system hookups.

Smith also said while he was not opposed to looking into Internet coverage expansion, if the grant funding could be found, he did not want the township to own the infrastructure or be in the communication line business.

Township Solicitor Marc Fisher said county CARES Act funds may be earmarked for specific projects in the township and may not be applicable to such an extension.

Furthermore, Smith said a possible expansion would be a year-plus project because the township would have to apply for grants and negotiate terms with Blue Ridge and other parties, which could take more than a year to resolve.

Moving forward, the board asked Graham and residents to speak to Blue Ridge about a possible hybrid system, and to compile a list of township properties and geographic areas which currently lack Internet coverage.

Supervisors also asked her to look into House Bill 2438 and Senate Bill 835, which Supervisor Brian Dietrich noted dealt with expanding broadband Internet access for rural and underserved parts of the state, and to get in contact with Day and the office of state Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th.

Additionally, the board asked township Secretary Tammy White to send a letter to Blue Ridge and also get in contact with the county and Kane about the amount of money Lynn Township could possibly receive in funding, along with its potential uses.

In other business, supervisors reviewed an ordinance regarding short-term rentals, and approved a motion to have Fisher review and advertise the ordinance.

Under fire company reports, Assistant Chief Tim VanBlargan reported Lynnport Fire Company had 44 emergency calls for the year.

VanBlargan said the company’s roof project is completed, and two members finished Mod 2 classes and have started Mod 3, virtually.

Also, the fire company is hosting a golf tournament Sept. 26 at Rich Maiden Golf Course. Final registration is on Sept. 12.

He said the company is hosting online raffles through its Facebook page.

Assistant Chief Gary Kuntz reported that New Tripoli Fire Company responded to 94 calls as of Aug. 11.

Three firefighters completed Mod 2 training and have started Mod 3 classes.

One firefighter is also enrolled in the Whitehall Basic Fire Academy.

Kuntz said New Tripoli Fire Company is having online raffles once per day to supplement lost income, with information and ticket purchasing available on its Facebook page.

The fire company’s drawing-only Guns-and-Cash Bash Raffle will take place Sept. 14 live on Facebook.

He said there will be a yard sale with food trucks 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 12, as well as a drive-through chicken barbecue 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 13.

Roadmaster Bruce Raber reported the road crew has been filling potholes on dirt roads, as well as sweeping roads which were oiled and chipped.

Workers finished helping Heidelberg Township with its oil and chipping.

Raber said the road crew cut numerous trees which fell during Tropical Storm Isaias, regraded washed-out dirt roads, and repaired pipework on Hummingbird and Springhouse roads that washed out or were damaged in the heavy rains.

The Ross Valley Bridge project is completed, with final approval given by himself and township engineer Ryan Christman.

The board approved a motion to pay $5,850 for items not originally addressed in the original bridge project.

In the park report, Raber said there were 55 dead trees in Ontelaunee Park along with numerous “widow-makers” which pose a problem.

The board asked him to contact tree companies for quotes on removing the dead trees, possibly over the course of several years.

Supervisors approved hiring Jacob Werley as a full-time road crew employee and Brandon Wehr as a full-time employee to split between the park and road crew.

The next supervisors’ meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10.