By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

During the public comment period of the Lynn Township supervisors’ Aug. 12 meeting, resident Jeffrey Ranz asked about a possible speed limit reduction for the residential area along Allemaengel Road.

Ranz said the process needed to be initiated by the board with PennDOT as Allemaengel is a numbered road and needs to be surveyed.

He said the speed limit is currently 35 mph.

“Numerous times we’ve had close calls with little children trying to cross the street even with adult supervision, with people speeding on through like it’s a highway rather than a country road,” Ranz said.

He also said there is no speed limit sign along the road, and Ranz noted other residential areas and neighborhoods have a 25 mph limit.

Ranz asked supervisors if they could request a study from PennDOT to lower the speed limit to 25 mph.

“That is something I wouldn’t want to take up unless we were a full board,” Supervisor Steve Feinour said, noting Chairman Justin Smith was absent.

Feinour wanted all three supervisors to have input on a potential speed reduction, adding he personally felt 35 mph was an acceptable speed limit.

Feinour said the supervisors would take the topic under consideration and have engineer Chris Noll do additional research on the roadway.

He encouraged Ranz to come back for a future meeting to discuss the matter.

Additionally, supervisors were addressed by Eric Andreus, natural resource manager with Deer Park Spring Water.

He delivered the company’s 2020 annual report for the Hoffman Springs site, where water is collected for bottling, and said the data “demonstrate our operations there are within our regulatory requirements.”

Andreus added Deer Park’s parent company, BlueTriton Brands, is compliant with all permits and operations are sustainable.

He then presented the board with a $15,000 check, which he said was a typical payment made to Lynn Township for improvements and enhancement at Ontelaunee Park.

Speaking of the change in ownership from the former Nestle Waters North America to BlueTriton, Andreus said the company still has two bottling lines in Breinigsville and are ready to invest in a third.

He said the company sees growth potential in the region, including at Hoffman Springs.

“I don’t think a whole lot is going to change to our operations here in the Lehigh Valley,” he said. “Our commitment to supporting the community and various organizations is not going to change.”

“Nestle was a great corporate partner, do you expect them to be the same?” Feinour asked.

Andreus said the mutual relationship would continue under the new owners.

“They know we’re only as strong as the community that’s around us, so we’re going to support the community as the community supports us,” Andreus said.

Feinour noted Deer Park donated extra money to the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial and became a partner on the project.

“People don’t understand how much they do for the community,” Feinour said. “They’re just a fantastic corporate partner.

“Ontelaunee Park looks the way it does mainly because of Deer Park and the amount of money they put into it, along with other partners, and we’re so appreciative of it.”

Andreus said the company also has supported New Tripoli Fire Company, and several years ago committed to providing $50,000 to the company’s capital improvement fund.

He said the company would look to continue supporting the park, firefighters and other organizations into the future.

“We certainly appreciate all you do for our township,” Supervisor Brian Dietrich said, “People have to realize it’s real money that taxpayers are taking advantage of, real money that’s coming back into the township whether it’s the fire company or the park.

“It’s been quite a bit, pretty substantial money - real money- over the years.”

In other business, the board discussed purchasing several new radios for the township road crew and fire departments.

Feinour and New Tripoli Fire Chief Gary Kuntz Jr., said they had recently met with representatives from ECCO Communications, which provided several sample radios for the road crew to test.

Feinour and roadmaster Bruce Raber added the new cell-based radios work well and provide good coverage, and the board approved a motion to purchase nine total radios, as well as mounting and charging equipment, for $8,661.

Supervisors said seven radios will be kept for the road crew - including two spares - and one would be provided to each fire company.

Additionally, the board approved similar motions to purchase another radio for $745 to be mounted in Emergency Management Coordinator Phil Hobel’s vehicle, and another portable radio for Hobel to use outside the vehicle.

Furthermore, a proposal from Jerdon Construction to fix draining issues and water damage to the Ontelaunee Park bandshell was approved at a cost of $1,977.

The board also approved a resolution to appoint Fritz Najarian to the township’s planning commission, as well as another motion to open a new account at New Tripoli Bank for the township’s COVID-19 relief money.

Township Secretary Tammy White said Lynn Township was receiving $231,371 this year, half of their total allocation.

The next supervisors’ meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9.