Upper Macungie Township News Briefs

Here are several newsworthy briefs from in and around the Upper Macungie Township area:

BLRP Arbitration

--Township supervisor Sam Ashmar said Thursday night that the arbitrator in the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police contract negotiation between rank-and-file officers and management has come to a decision in principle. Ashmar said there is a 30-day appeal period and that an announcement of the contract deal will come when that appeal is exhausted.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps

-- Fire Commissioner Grant Grim said, as part of with Cetronia Ambulance Corps, that the township is asking for a second Cetronia ambulance unit in the township from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Grim said the request is to help handle the increasing amount of calls during the workday. 

PSP Barracks

-- Supervisor Kathy Rader said renovations on the , located at 8320 Schantz Road, should be completed by the end of the month. Rader said the township should begin collecting a monthly rent on the building within two months.

Emergency calls

-- Grim reported 94 emergency fire calls within the township in May and 159 EMS calls.

Zoning

-- A total of 157 permits were issued in May, including 11 for new residences, 63 for residential alterations, 5 for commercial additions/alterations and 78 miscellaneous permits. Eight electrical and three plumbing licenses were issued.

Recreation

-- The Recreation Board will hold a ground-breaking ceremony Saturday for the township dog park, located at the Route 100 park (Upper Macungie Park.) The park will open when road work is completed and fencing is re-installed.

-- The South Parkland Youth Association has authorized a donation to the township to fully cover the cost of constructing a multi-purpose building at Grange Park. The building will be utilized for equipment storage, township maintenance equipment storage and meetings.

-- Supervisor Kathy Rader noted the Recreation Board has formed a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, set up to accept donations. Bylaws are currently being developed for this non-profit organization.