The Salisbury Township Public Works Department’s 2023 proposed budget includes new vehicles and an increase in the cost of paving material.

The paving material cost increase is attributed to the hike in the price of oil.

A new piece of equipment, a bucket truck, is on the bucket list for Christmas, or perhaps the wish list for Salisbury Township Director of Public Works Jim Levernier.

The truck is expected to aid public works crews, and maybe Santa Claus.

The bucket truck could be Santa’s big helper, and give Rudolph a run for the season, when it comes to stringing the lights at the Franko Farm Park holiday tree for Christmas 2023.

That is if the truck arrives in time. The truck, if purchased, isn’t expected to be delivered until the third quarter of 2023.

In that case, it might be a timely present under, or more likely, at the Christmas tree for public works.

The public works portion of the proposed 2023 budget was discussed during the workshop at the Oct. 13 township board of commissioners’ meeting.

“The one biggest increase [in the public works 2023 budget] is $40,000 in the cost of materials for paving,” Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said during the workshop.

“It’s the same amount of material, but the costs went through the roof because of oil,” Levernier said during the workshop.

“A lot of the request [for increases] is for the general fund. We’re not increasing staffing,” Ziegenfus said of the proposed public works budget.

“Most of the requests are staying in line,” Ziegenfus said.

“All of our positions are filled,” Levernier said of public works department staffing.

“Jim is going to be replacing trucks,” Ziegenfus said.

Among these are Chevy and Ford dump trucks.

Plans are to place a valve-turning machine on the back of one of the trucks.

Public Works is requesting to purchase a utility bucket truck, which would be an additional vehicle in the public works fleet. If purchased, the township won’t need to rent a bucket truck.

The bucket truck will be listed under capital expenses in the budget. Approximately $90,000 will be used from the Highway Aid Fund toward paying for the bucket truck.

“Chevy ... Ford ... price range is about the same,” Levernier said, adding, “Chevy can give me a price and a delivery date. Ford can’t.”

Delivery is not expected until the third quarter of 2023, Levernier noted.

“You can imagine that makes planning and budgeting a little more difficult,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said, adding, “It’s making everything a nightmare as to how we replace things.”

“I was trying to keep the numbers the same,” Levernier said.

“The bucket truck will be able to put up the lights at Franko,” Ziegenfus said.

Concerning the increased cost of paving materials, Levernier said, “Some of the roads will get pothole patching. If we can get more roads done ... It’s so expensive, the road work. All the municipalities are in the same boat.”

Approximately 4,000 tons of paving material is the amount in-house the township would utilize.

“We were going to pave more, but we used our budget. There’s only so much we can do,” Levernier said.

“Jim has taken over administration of the buildings,” Ziegenfus said.

“The buildings are in relatively good shape,” Levernier said, noting 80 percent of the HVAC work has been completed in the municipal building.

“We have even looked at Eastern Salisbury [Fire Department building],” Levernier said. The building at East Emmaus Avenue and Honeysuckle Road dates to 1991.

“Green Acres Park needs a complete renovation,” Levernier said, with 2024 the target year, and added, “Devonshire is getting wrapped up. New equipment is planned for River Road Park.

“Nobody seems to care about tennis. All they are about is pickleball,” Levernier said.

Lindberg Park has two pickleball courts.

The Oct. 13 meeting workshop included discussion of Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd., to collect delinquent real estate taxes.

Ziegenfus said Salisbury Township is participating in a program to help residents with delinquent fees.

The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund can assist residents if they are in arrears. The fund was awarded to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, according to the PAHAF website.

“If anybody’s water is shut off, they can apply for it,” Ziegenfus said.

“It helps them get back on track and we get paid,” Ziegenfus said.

Concerning water and sewer rates, Ziegenfus said, “We’re requesting a little bit of an increase in those rates.”

During the Oct. 13 meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a motion, recommended for a vote by Commissioner Alok Patnaik and seconded by board Vice President, to approve:

Payment No. 1 (Final) to Asphalt Maintenance Services, LLC, Center Valley, for:

•2022 Bituminous Seal Coat & Type 2 Slurry Project in the amount of $263,070.92, for 33rd Street, Bevin Drive, Piccadilly Circle, Alton Street, Dell Street, Victoria Circle, Crownwood Street, The Strand, Devonshire parking lot, Audubon Street, Baldwin Court and Box Elder Road.

•2022 Double Bituminous Seal Coat Project in the amount of $87,915.24 for East Rock Road, Sour Apple Lane, Mountain Top Lane and Werley’s Lane.

Before the vote on the roadwork payments, Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., said, “They did a good job on it. We’re recommending approval.”

The board of commissioners met for an executive session after the Oct. 13 workshop.

Leaf collection was to have begun Oct. 13 in the township.

A “Sustainable Backyard Workshop,” free and open to the public is scheduled 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the garage area, Lehigh County Authority, 1053 Spruce Road, Wescosville.

The Lehigh County Conservation District, in partnership with Lehigh County Authority and Penn State Lehigh County Extension, is sponsoring the event.

Participants receive a free light dinner and a native shrub.

For registration information, visit https://www.salisburytownshippa.org.

Salisbury Township trick-or-treat night is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 28.

The Salisbury Environmental Advisory Council reconvenes 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

The Salisbury Township Planning Commission meets 7 p.m. Oct. 26 in the municipal building.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners meets 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in the municipal building.