By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

South Whitehall commissioners have approved advertising an amendment to township ordinances regarding snow emergency routes.

Operations Director Randy Cope said, during the Oct. 7 meeting that Walbert Avenue would be added to the list of state roads the township will be responsible for plowing and salting during the winter.

In total, the four snow routes are Cedarbrook Road from Walnut Street to Dorney Park Road, Pirma Avenue from Whitehall Avenue to Mauch Chunk Road, Walbert Avenue from Route 309 to 19th Street and Whitehall Avenue from Walbert to Pirma.

Cope said the township could do a better job of plowing - noting South Whitehall’s plows currently drive down Walbert Avenue with their plows up because they lack the authority to plow the roadway.

He said the five-year agreement would bring in around $60,000 in reimbursement.

In other matters, the board authorized Commissioner Christina “Tori” Morgan to sign the electronic access agreement for the Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool, which Police Chief Glen Dorney said was necessary to work on receiving DUI and traffic grants from the Department of Transportation.

Dorney said this is the first year all traffic safety grants, including seat belt, pedestrian, aggressive driving and DUI enforcement grants, are consolidated, and the agreement will allow the department to enter data for research and information on targeting specific grant areas.

A related resolution to approve applications for the Lehigh County Regional Traffic Safety Program grant was also approved.

Parks and Recreation Manager Mike Kukitz reported the township recently acquired 25.7 acres along Brickyard Road for what will become South Whitehall’s second largest park.

He added the master plan will include public participation, a resource analysis, two design alternatives, a prefinal and final master plan identifying active and passive recreation opportunities, and specific sustainability and green design considerations.

The project is half funded by a Department of Natural Resources and Conservation grant, and also from township funds budgeted in the 2020 Capital Fund.