By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

Following a presentation by Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, Heidelberg Township supervisors addressed their regular business agenda during their Feb. 18 virtual meeting.

Regarding ongoing conversations about increasing volunteer fire company recruitment, Germansville Fire Chief Jay Scheffler said the chiefs for the four volunteer departments serving Northwestern Lehigh School District were working on a proposal for a school outreach program to encourage volunteering, which they may bring before the school board in the near future.

Additionally, during the fire company report, Scheffler noted the downstairs area of the fire station would be undergoing a remodel, which he called “long overdue,” to improve fire team members’ comfort and equipment storage.

Scheffler also noted that due to the remodel, voting will no longer take place in the downstairs area.

He added that while the upstairs portion of the social hall is ADA-compliant and could be used, it would likely need an inspection by the county before being used in the upcoming election.

Scheffler encouraged supervisors to attend the fire company’s banquet in March, noting that at least one member traditionally attends the event.

“I think it’s a good time to say a few words to these people who pour their heart and soul into that facility and this community,” Scheffler said.

Supervisor David Fink said the fire company was continuing with raffles and had raised $37,187.49 in the first round of raffle returns.

The raffle money, Scheffler said, would be used to pay off the company’s new truck.

Scheffler said firefighters have been running EMS calls during the recent snowstorms, and he commended the township road crew for plowing and snow removal during the winter.

In the ambulance report, Chairman Steve Bachman reported Northern Valley EMS recently raised its pay rates to cover short-staffing issues, hiring two part-time and two full-time members and having more interviews for openings.

For the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee report, Bachman said 2,300 names will be added to the memorial, and $151,000 had been raised out of the $300,000 budget amount.

He said the memorial committee was soliciting local businesses and residents for donations.

In addition Bachman, said the committee had proposed having the townships be responsible for paying to have the names of future veterans from their respective municipalities engraved in the monument but the board decided against the proposal, and said there should be a committee to look at funding for such work.

In her report, Administrator Janice Meyers said the township was completing an application for the Keystone Communities Grant for up to $50,000 in funding for a new air filtration system for the garage.

Zoning Officer Dawn Didra reported she had been in contact with Lehigh County Emergency Management about available hazardous mitigation money to fund the replacement of Buckery Road Bridge.

Heidelberg Township would be notified once the 2021 application period opens.

Township engineer Chris Noll said the design is nearly completed for the bridge and would be ready to move forward once funding is available. He said the estimated bridge replacement cost was around $350,000.

Under subdivisions and land developments, the board reviewed a waiver request from SALDO review requirements for a property along Furnace Road.

Meyers said the issue was discussed in January and the board requested the property owners include septic information and the locations of a proposed dwelling and driveway on the plan, which had been completed.

The board granted the review waiver, as none of the development was proposed to take place in, or have any impact on, the township.

Supervisors approved a motion to appoint LTL Consultants to perform building inspection services for 2021 after finding that the company’s itemized fee schedule was comparable to the other two companies the township uses - Blue Mountain Inspection Services and Lehigh Valley Inspection Services.

Additionally, supervisors voted to table the township’s proposed Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance, which had been discussed at previous meetings, to allow Solicitor Charles Waters to review the ordinance language and bring comments to the next board meeting.

During the public comment period, board members heard from Jan Sutermeister from the nonprofit Northwestern Swim and Fitness, who asked whether the organization could place a link and some information about its goals and mission on the township’s website.

Supervisors approved her request and said Meyers could make the necessary changes.

The next supervisors’ meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. March 18.