At the Dec. 20, 2023, meeting, Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting, township Engineer Al Kortze, with Keystone Consulting Engineers, re-announced his retirement. Council was aware of Kortze’s departure, but he pointed out this meeting would be his final one serving the township.

Council collectively thanked Kortze for his years of successful work serving Hanover Township. Kortze said that after 30 years as an engineer, it seemed like the right time to retire. Kortze noted he has served a number of municipalities as an engineer and said this township was best because of the professionalism and teamwork of the council members and assistance of the township staff.

Friendly banter ensued, with council Chairman Bruce Paulus thanking Kortze for his work and noted if he wants to return in the future, he could.

“If my wife allowed me to serve one municipality, I would choose this one,” Kortze said, tongue-in-cheek.

A township engineer works for the township government. The engineer plans community land use, studies environmental impact, designs infrastructure, makes zoning recommendations, researches usage recommendations and oversees project execution.

Keystone Consulting Engineers, of Bethlehem, is a multi-discipline civil and consulting and surveying firm. It provides engineering services for numerous municipalities in the Lehigh Valley.

In other business, council adopted resolution 2023-51, which appointed Paul J. Harak as a conflict attorney to the zoning hearing board.

The release of final payment number two to Telco Inc. for the Catasauqua Road Valley Plaza signal improvement project in the amount of $166,888.61 was authorized by council.

Council also voted to release the final payment to Michael F. Ronca and Sons for the Valley Plaza sanitary sewer replacement project in the amount of $449,703 and to enter an 18-month maintenance agreement.

A public hearing was held for bill 2023-05 to amend chapter 15 of the statutory code of Hanover Township that changes a number of street references and increases street and parking restrictions.

Several other public hearings were held that address employee language in ordinances that were either in need of updating or will add holiday benefits and bereavement benefits for employees.

All ordinances and resolutions are available for public review by contacting the township office.

In his final engineer’s report, Kortze noted the Catasauqua signal project is waiting for pole energizing by PPL. After PPL’s work, the project will be completed.

In another matter, Kortze said the MS4 contractor plans to begin work in late winter or early spring.

The next township council meeting was expected to be Dec. 27, 2023, at the township municipal building, 2202 Grove St.

The reorganization meeting is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Jan. 8. It will be followed by a regular monthly meeting, in-person only.