A fast-moving storm the evening of May 26 kept Salisbury Township crews, with township public works and fire department personnel responding to trees damaged in Lindberg Park and vicinity.

“Lindberg Park has about a dozen trees, 80-foot trees, snapped in half,” James Levernier, Salisbury Township Acting Director of Public Works, told a reporter for The Press after the May 27 board of commissioners meeting.

Township public works employees and Western Salisbury Fire Company and Eastern Salisbury Fire Company firefighters responded, removing tree limbs and debris from streets.

Crews worked three to six hours May 26 on the cleanup, with “only in a small area” of the township impacted, including Meadowbrook, Saddlebrook and Lehigh Parkway residential areas, Levernier said, adding, “There was nothing on the east side.”

“We have quite a bit to clean up,” Levernier told The Press, adding the work was to continue May 28.

According to WFMZ-TV 69News, the May 26 storm left thousands without power. A PPL spokesman told WFMZ-TV 69News approximately 14,000 customers were affected, with 1,000 without power as of midday May 27.

The storm damaged a portion of the roof at Sparkle Cleaners, Lower Macungie Township, reported WFMZ-TV 69News.

The National Weather Service had updated a severe thunderstorm watch to a warning, including lightning and winds up to 70 mph, for the Lehigh Valley until 10 p.m. May 26.

In his report to commissioners, Levernier said a list of township street paving projects scheduled for 2021 will be posted on the township website.

“I’m hoping to have a three-year list on the website,” Levernier said.

“I think that’s wonderful,” township commissioners’ board President Deb Brinton said.

Levernier said the township public works department has received a $274,000 grant for leaf equipment. The funding is at 90 percent, with the final 10 percent to be provided by the township.

“It’s a huge help,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said.

Bonaskiewich said Salisbury Township Recreation Director Genny Baillie “is working on some plans for some events,” including two movie nights and a music night at Franko Farm Park, with dates to be announced.

“They’re trying to get more activities for different age groups,” Bonaskiewich said.

“Salisbury Township Night” is July 20 at an IronPigs baseball game at Coca-Cola Park, Allentown.

In other business, commissioners voted 5-0, on a motion by Commissioner James Seagreaves, seconded by commissioner Alok Patnaik, to approve a motion to exonerate delinquent taxes of $2,000 for a 1.97-acre property along Chestnut Hill Road in the township.

The property owned by Mark Southard, according to township officials, was purchased for $10,000 and is assessed at $81,600.

Township officials said Salisbury Township School District officials required the property owner to agree the property would be valued at its assessment and not the purchase price.

Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, via Zoom, said, “I like to bring the county government to the municipalities.”

Armstrong usually visits Lehigh County municipal meetings in person. With COVID-19 protocol, he has been “Zooming in.”

“We’re working now on rescue funds,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said he is on a national committee of county executives who met May 26 via Zoom with the director of intergovernmental affairs in U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.

“We’re probably one of the smallest counties, but we have the same problems,” Armstrong said, adding, “This one was about infrastructure.”

Armstrong said he brought to the attention of the White House official a need for funding to underwrite the cost of converting from analogue to digital communication equipment by volunteer emergency services organizations.

During the May 27 township workshop, a proposed Memorandum of Understanding with KidsPeace for the Broadway campus, 1650 Broadway, Salisbury Township, was discussed.

“Because of changes from the feds, we need to have this in place for our police,” Bonaskiewich said.

“Chief [Kevin] Soberick had a lot to do with getting it in place,” Bonaskiewich said.

Salisbury Township Solicitor Attorney John W. Ashley reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding with Soberick.

“This is just our response to an incident,” Bonaskiewich said.

“Some of these children don’t have any parents [here],” Ashley said.

Salisbury Township Planning and Zoning Director Kerry Rabold updated commissioners about proposed updates to the township tree, grading, zoning and Salisbury Township Subdivision and Land Development ordinances.

The changes were discussed and recommended for approval at the May 11 township planning commission meeting.

“Most of the changes were already presented to you. At the last planning commission meeting, they approved the changes,” Rabold said.

A public hearing on the zoning ordinance changes is expected to be held prior to the 7 p.m. June 24 township meeting.

Salisbury Township municipal meetings are to be held all in-person in June. Plexiglas shields are set up between township officials at the dais. Chairs for the audience are socially-distanced.

The June 1 zoning hearing board meeting and the June 8 planning commission meetings are canceled.

The board of commissioners’ next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. June 10 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.