By DOUGLAS GRAVES

Special to The Press

Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong quickly reviewed a substantial list of accomplishments during his past seven-and-half years in office as executive during his final state of the county address at Coca-Cola Stadium on Feb. 20.

His second and last term as executive ends this year and will conclude his eight years in office.

With the help of the Chamber’s Senior Vice President for Allentown Initiatives Brittney Ciardi, who held topic cards for the audience’s benefit, Armstrong offered the following information.

According to documents released at the address, Federal Community Development Block Grant money was used to improve accessibility to sidewalks ($1,411,000) and improve safety for people with mobility challenges and for reconstruction of roads ($1,411,000).

The county used $372,000 from COVID money to buy firefighting equipment to include: a rescue pumper truck for Fountain Hill, six airpacks, face masks and cylinders for Slatington, a compressed air system for Coplay, and a fire interceptor vehicle for Coplay.

It also allocated $250,000 for rehabilitating affordable housing apartments.

The county spent $246,000 for the rehabilitation of sewer lines while $102,000 went to preservation of historic properties such as the George Taylor House in Catasauqua and the Mickley-Prydon Farm in Whitehall.

Armstrong said his administration created a “Blight Project” to help municipalities reduce blight.

He said this led the county to “breathe new life” into and reactivate the Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority.

His administration disbursed “slightly over” $150,000,000 in COVID-relief money, according to Armstrong.

“At a time when other similar political subdivision rushed money out the door with few controls, Lehigh County established a collaborative process that guaranteed every dollar was awarded thoughtfully and ended up in the pockets of those most in need.”

Lehigh County’s COVID money was spent on: $44 million for emergency rental assistance, $9.7 million to small businesses, $33 million to nonprofit grants, $4.1 million to the Hospitality Recovery Program Assistance, which went to 114 recipients.

COVID relief money went to small businesses, nonprofits, local municipalities, local education, broadband and workforce development agencies. Money was also earmarked for local and regional tourism agencies, drug and alcohol and behavioral health agencies and some went toward county expenses such as Cedarbrook, IT, homelessness relocation expenses and administrative fees.

According to the press release provided by county staffer:

“At a time when Americans were rapidly losing by Executive Order, protections from discrimination that we thought were safely enshrined in law, Lehigh County moved to create a Human Relations Commission to protect the rights of all of our residents at the county level.”

Some projects receiving COVID funding include: the Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community center to support its annual Lehigh Valley Pride Festival, the DaVinci Science Center’s annual national traveling exhibits such as Land of Fire and Ice and the Expedition: Dinosaurs, and the Martin Luther and Corretta Scott King Memorial to assist with upgrades for its memorial and with the annual Juneteenth event.

Other projects receiving COVID funding: the Allentown Band to support its annual Veterans Tribute and Holiday Concert at Symphony Hall, the Allentown Police Athletic League for its youth programs, including summer camp and basketball programs for kids.

Also receiving COVID funding: America on Wheels Museum to assist with senior free admission days, Burnside Plantation, Community Bike Works, Lehigh County Historical Society, the Chamber Foundation, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University.

Armstrong also lauded having a clean audit every year, maintaining a $25 million stabilization fund, and no tax increases during his administration.

He also described improvements and investment in some General Services projects: the 911 Emergency Call Center and the Emergency Management Plan,

The executive said $572 million from the American Rescue funding went to programs such as: public health initiatives, small business and nonprofits, and to support local governments to mitigate loss of revenue due to the pandemic.

Other American Rescue money went to social and justice equity programs.

He recognized the county as the regional leader for hazardous mitigation control, for work on bridges (Coplay Bridge, Wire Mill Bridge, Walnut St. Bridge, the Geiger Covered Bridge, and the Cementon Bridge).

Armstrong highlighted initiating and receiving a grant to complete the trail extensions in Catasauqua, the trail extension from Hamilton St. in Allentown to Race St. in Whitehall and for completing the Trexler Nature Preserve Master Site Plan.

He said Lehigh County was in the final stages for the Jordan Greenway Trail project and is creating a plan for the Lockridge Furnace renovation and has completed a plan to upgrade the historic Saylor Kilns.

He said a plan has been created to upgrade Cedar Beach Park West and to resurface the track at the Velodrome.

The new mountain bike trail at Trexler Nature Preserve was completed on time and on budget, according to Armstrong. A plan was also completed to mitigate invasive plants like Autumn Olive trees in Trexler Nature Preserve.

Also on Armstrong’s list for recognition was completion of the historic Lehigh County Courthouse (circa 1812) for nearly $15 million.

Armstrong said $4.5 million was slated to upgrade Coca-Cola Park and that upgrades were made to two “comfort cottages” to house children in need of a safe home.

He said the Farm Preservation Program achieved a new milestone by having 28,000 acres of farmland in the program.

The county was credited by Armstrong as having “the first ever Lehigh Valley Equity Housing audit.”

He mentioned other projects: investments in zoning and planning for “effective and smart development,” and investing in freight analysis to create a “road map for effective transportation grid planning.”

Also getting county investments are environmental issues such as “climate equity,” police training, municipal fire training facilities for Emmaus, Allentown and Whitehall.

He said the county has initiated an Aging and Behavioral Health Task Force, initiated a shared housing program, and revitalized the Elder Abuse Task Force.

He said the county is screening for human trafficking.

Armstrong said that over the past seven and half years, Lehigh County Mental Health has added services to help police when they encounter citizens with mental health issues.

He discussed alcohol and drug abuse.

“Addiction is a family disease,” he said, describing programs to help families who have members with drug and alcohol problems.

Lastly, Armstrong praised the county’s Department of Law, which has prepared 286 resolutions and 203 bills for the board of commissioners.

He gave other statistics to illustrate the extent of work the Department of Law provides in various areas: human services contracts, county agreements, farm preservation contracts, Orphans Court proceedings, assessment appeals, right-to-know requests, bail hearings, sheriff sales of property, representing the county in 140 legal actions, including election litigation.

Armstrong also credited the Department of Law with drafting a Human Relations Ordinance.