The Salisbury Township Police Department K-9 Patrol Unit has received a $1,000 donation from Nestlé Purina.

“We not only received a check, but a lot of food for the patrol dogs,” Salisbury Township Chief of Police Donald Sabo said during the symbolic check presentation at the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ meeting Sept. 26.

The check was presented to Salisbury Township Police Officer Brian Zulic, with K-9 Ryker and Salisbury Township Police Officer Kyle Watson, with K-9 Echo, from Zach Miller, engineer; Julia Miller, communications specialist and Debbie Petrecz, associate manager, operations planning, all of Nestlé Purina.

Nestlé Purina makes pet food, including ALPO, Friskies, Mighty Dog and Pro Plan at its plant in South Whitehall Township.

Nestlé purchased the ALPO plant in 1985. The plant, which employs approximately 480, dates to 1958. ALPO was founded in 1936.

In other business at the Sept. 26 meeting, commissioners voted 4-0, with one commissioner absent, to approve:

- Resolution conditionally approving the Walnut Grove Land Development Plan at 1350 E. Susquehanna St. The township planning commission recommended approval.

- Resolution authorizing the township manager and assistant manager to execute Northampton-Lehigh County local share assessment grant documents and agreements for $177,000 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for repair and improvement of the Eastern Salisbury Fire Department parking lot, including concrete apron.

- Resolution authorizing the disposition of public works equipment; including a 2014 International dump truck (57,430 odometer miles); a 2017 Ford Explorer (70,298 odometer miles); total station survey equipment and a York rake three-point hitch.

- Resolution recognizing township volunteers Charles Beck, John Eberhard and Edward Delviscio. The volunteer recognition dinner is 6 p.m. Oct. 17 in the municipal building meeting room.

- Motion authorizing release of improvements escrow and entering maintenance period for 1204 Voortman Ave. minor subdivision project;

- Motion exonerating Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church 2024 interim township real estate tax bill.

- Motion certifying the 2025 Minimum Municipal Obligation for Police Defined-Benefit Pension Plan and Nonuniformed Defined-Benefit & Defined Contribution Pension Plan.

Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus reported the nonuniformed MMO has risen by $175,548, primarily because of the amortization of unfunded liabilities.

The total MMO is now $1,004,173, with an unfunded liability of $706,000.

Ziegenfus said one factor contributing to the shortfall is that actual increases have occurred at a higher rate than projected.

In addition, while the plan allows retirement at age 60, actuaries typically assume retirement at age 65, which leads to underfunding.

He noted overall, the projected increase for 2025 is $225,000.

Topics at the meeting workshop included:

- Review and discussion of township street plowing and cindering policy, particularly how it pertains to private drives.

- Review and discussion of implementation of mailbox replacement policy.

- Discussion regarding township tree harvesting ordinance.

The October township municipal meeting schedule is: 7 p.m. Oct. 9, zoning hearing board; 7 p.m. Oct. 10, board of commissioners, canceled; 7 p.m. Oct. 16, environmental advisory council; 7 p.m. Oct. 23, planning commission, canceled and 7 p.m. Oct. 24, board of commissioners.