“Where would we be without you?”

Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt expressed this comment in support of Commissioner Bob Elbich’s sponsorship of a resolution by Lehigh County Honoring National First Responders Day, observed Oct 28.

During the Oct. 26 Lehigh County Commissioners meeting, Elbich spoke eloquently about the work of first responders in the county, noting they are individuals who “help those who are in need, desperate need.”

“There is only one thing that they do when they leave the fire company, the police department or the EMS location (pause) it is how they can help our citizens and their fellow citizens in this community. I think we can all take a lesson from them, it is something to aspire to,” Elbich said.

Cetronia Fire Chief and President of Lehigh County Fire Chiefs Association Jay Heicklen, Executive Director of Macungie EMS and President of Lehigh County EMS Association Christopher Greb and Lehigh County EMA Outreach Manager John Semonich were recognized by the commissioners for their work in helping the citizens of Lehigh Valley. South Whitehall Police Chief Glen Dorney and Whitehall Police Chief Michael Marks were recognized in absentia.

According to Elbich’s resolution, in 2021, first responders in Lehigh County answered 28,575 emergency medical calls, 13,907 fire and accident calls and 187,840 police calls. Across the nation in 2021, 65 first responders were struck and killed while assisting others on roadways and 458 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty.

In other meeting news, the 2023 Lehigh County budget, presented Aug. 29 by County Executive Phillips Armstrong, was adopted unanimously at the Oct. 26 commissioners meeting.

Dutt, who chairs the finance committee, made the point that although he is not “an accountant or financier,” he was happy with the final product. In his opinion, four questions were key in debating the contents of the budget: is it smart, is it focused, is it balanced and does it look toward the future?

Tim Reeves, CFO of Lehigh County, took to the microphone to recognize and thank county staff who worked long hours developing the budget.

Commissioner Geoff Brace made the point to all in attendance “Lehigh County is in a great financial situation.”

Brace introduced Bill 2022-39: Approving a Reapportionment of Lehigh County Commissioner Districts. If approved Nov. 9, changes to current commissioner districts would reflect changes in population shifts based on Census 2020 data.

The proposed new map can be found on the Lehigh County site: lehighcounty.org.

On a final note, Arthur A. Swallow, was appointed to the Sterling Farmland Preservation Board for a term expiring May 31, 2025.

The next Lehigh County Commissioners meeting is scheduled Nov. 9.