At the April 12 Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners meeting, a community member voiced concerns about traffic speeds near his residence between Congress and Pennsylvania streets. He shared his personal experience of a vehicle driving too fast, losing control and crashing into his backyard. The vehicle reportedly struck his wife and caused his family to spend the next two years recovering and dealing with a litigation process.

The resident approached the board in hopes of effecting real change. He claimed to have recorded someone driving on Congress Street going 51 mph in the 25 mph zone.

Mayor Michael Harakal Jr. said he would be glad to have a personal meeting with the resident and get the process moving to control the speed in that area.

The board unanimously approved all of the ordinances and resolutions on the meeting agenda.

Bill No. 8 will purchase a new hydraulic snowblower, and Bill No. 9 will approve the reconstruction of the roadway at South Lehigh Avenue. Both of these purchases will be paid from the Lafarge fund.

The police department will be purchasing two 2021 Dodge Charger vehicles and two Dodge Durango vehicles for the patrol division.

The board approved the submission of a grant by Harakal to Lehigh County to secure community development funds. More information on the status of the grant and what the money will be allocated for is to come.

Commissioner Charles Fisher shared that the Environmental Advisory Council will be holding a cleanup event 9 a.m.-noon May 8 next to Home Depot at Jordan Creek. He also shared the EAC will be utilizing its Facebook page to share events more regularly.

Commissioner Michael Dee noted a new COVID-19 vaccination clinic has opened at the former A.C. Moore, 2633 MacArthur Road. Dee and Fisher encouraged all to go out and get their vaccines, adding that all Pennsylvania residents are eligible to get the vaccine as of April 13, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

Commissioner Jeffrey Warren shared a possible development within the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative. According to Shari Noctor, head of the organization, the program is trying to launch a children’s summer feeding program that will supply food to 500 kids.

Recent data has unveiled there are a large number of households with children who struggle with transportation on top of food scarcity. This program would aim to fill the growing gap in child hunger. There will be a public meeting on the issue 6 p.m. April 15 at 3024 S. Ruch St., Stiles.

Board President Philip Ginder took a moment to thank Lee Rackus, township planning, zoning and development bureau chief, for all of the work her department has been doing recently.

Ginder also took a moment to thank emergency service personnel involved with the April 8 Lehigh Valley Dairy fire, saying they had a “willingness to jump in and solve the problem.”

Warren questioned why the township was unaware of the fire hydrant reportedly being turned off on this site. Harakal said it must have been done by the property owner without communication to the township. Ginder said there should be a required discussion between both of the township’s water authorities when a property owner shuts off the water.

At the start of the meeting, Ginder reported three executive sessions were held last month to discuss legal and personnel issues. The board held these meetings in the public meeting room at the Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority. No additional comments were given.

The board will meet again 7 p.m. May 3 for a workshop meeting. For viewing instructions, visit the Whitehall Township website, whitehalltownship.org, and find the link under the Whitehall News on the main page.