Mostly cloudy with a few scattered showers lingering overnight A pickup truck that crashed into the side of a tractor trailer became pinned underneath it - A pickup truck that crashed into the side of a tractor trailer became pinned underneath it on Saturday morning The accident occurred in the parking lot of a Wells Fargo Bank on West Tilghman Street in Allentown around 10:30 a.m. South Whitehall police say that the pickup truck drove into the tractor trailer The driver of the pick up truck has been transported to the hospital and there is no word at this time on how serious their injuries are The parking lot where the incident took place is now clear Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device 2025 3:03PMA crash in the Lehigh Valley injured two people and led to an hours-long shutdown of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP. (WPVI) -- A crash in the Lehigh Valley injured two people and led to an hours-long shutdown of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike It happened in the northbound lanes in South Whitehall Township just after 10 p.m One person was thrown onto the road when the vehicles collided Action News is working to learn the extent of the injuries to both victims — Should Whitehall Township’s dream of building a community recreation center at Jefferson Street Park come to fruition the township board of commissioners heard the results of a feasibility study from representatives of project engineering and architectural firms presented a review of the existing Jefferson Street Park and made recommendations as part of the studies for the proposed recreation center a senior project manager with HRG Engineering of Allentown joined Klocek during the 30-minute presentation Funding would come from a combination of grants perhaps a bond issue and other streams of private funding The next step in the process involves revisions to the draft of the recreation center feasibility study based on feedback from the community and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources The DCNR funds projects involving the rehabilitation and development of public indoor and/or outdoor park recreation and conservation areas and facilities The MKSD and HRG assessment of the year-long study and site analysis of the three existing buildings at Jefferson Street Park concluded: “It’s just a big picture of the building.” Input from township residents was taken during public events and from an online survey of what they would like inside and outside the recreation center “People made suggestions about what they’re looking for,” Klocek said The top four responses from community members were a gymnasium for basketball volleyball and other sports; an indoor walking track; a group exercise and weight/cardio equipment area; and meeting rooms Among other responses were a racquetball court “We took that information and melded it together,” Milewski said “We also studied the economic impact of what the building could do We wanted to learn how the community wants to use the building.” Other considerations in the feasibility study included access to the community traffic flow in and out of Jefferson Street code compliance and parking and pedestrian access 2025: Capital campaign; funding for design 2026: Design; funding for construction; programming finalization and considerations 2027: Finalize construction documents; finalize site design; secure permits; bidding and contract awarding 2028: Building construction (18 months); development of staff job descriptions “We’ve worked on this for 15 months until now,” Commissioner Ken Snyder said “The biggest part is affordability and options it was for it to be part of the community in Whitehall.” despite the committee having spent a significant amount of time on the project I think we have a very good plan to work with and a direction,” he said said he is asked repeatedly if he wants a recreation center “People ask if I want a rec center or don’t want a rec center,” Hibbler said during the workshop session “I’m neutral; I just want what’s best for the community.” Said Commission Secretary Randy Atiyeh: “I moved as a young age from Allentown to Whitehall I can’t tell you how much the recreation here has helped me and my siblings We have to look at recreation as an investment.” Atiyeh’s sentiments were echoed by John Kelly a member of the township recreation commission “It’s not a rec center as much as it is a community center,” Kelly told the board “It’s about becoming one Whitehall community “Building something like this … will bring together the community “It’s very easy to say no; let’s find a way to say yes.” The meeting was cancelled after a request from the developer - A North Whitehall Township Planning Commission meeting regarding a proposed warehouse has been cancelled The meeting was cancelled after a request from the developer, according to a message on the township's website. The planning commission had been scheduled to discuss the warehouse proposed for parcels of land at Route 309 and Orefield Road The township says the meeting will be rescheduled for a future date 2025The break on the eight-inch line shut off water to the municipal buildings and some residents who live nearby.SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP. (WPVI) -- A water main break in Lehigh County is causing traffic and water problems Tuesday on Ridgeview Drive in South Whitehall Township The break on the eight-inch line shut off water to the municipal buildings It has also shut down Ridgeview drive between Walbert Avenue and Parkland drive until work can be completed — Philip Ginder was unanimously appointed to a vacant seat on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners during a special meeting on Wednesday night Ginder, 74, was selected from among three candidates interviewed on Monday to fill the seat created when Robert Piligian resigned on Feb a former township recreation department director who relocated to Whitehall two years ago with a background in municipal government Stakes is a candidate for the board of commissioners in the May 20 Democratic primary election Ginder returns to the board of commissioners after having served six Ginder had a wide and varied commitment of service in Whitehall Township beyond serving as commissioner He served on the township planning commission for six years and the traffic advisory board for five years He also served on the Whitehall-Coplay School Board advisory relations commission Ginder is not a candidate for the board of commissioners in the spring primary election “I’m just happy to serve the rest of this year,” he said after the appointment Ginder was sworn in by Whitehall Township Executive Assistant Larissa Bruder “I appreciate the confidence you have in me,” Ginder said “And I will do all I did the previous 24 years.” He earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1975 and spent 40 years as a mechanical contractor Ginder believes his experience as a veteran businessman and former commissioner will serve as a plus on the board Each board member thanked both Ginder and Stakes “We were very lucky to have three people step up,” said commissioners President Thomas Slonaker “There would have been more of a learning curve for Taylor Phil and Anthony have been involved in the township Added board Secretary Randy Atiyeh: “I thank all the candidates They all want to make our community better.” The plant at the intersection of Route 309 and Pope Road makes dog and cat food - Nestle Purina workers with a union in South Whitehall Township have agreed to a new contract Teamsters Local 773 said on its Facebook page it has a new four-year contract Teamsters Local 773 said the new contract includes wage increases Nestle Purina previously said it had activated a contingency plan that would allow it to maintain basic operations with minimal disruption to its product supply during the strike South Whitehall Township Nestle Purina workers with Teamsters Local 773 on strike gathered to demonstrate on Sunday — A plan to construct 116 townhomes and single-unit homes was unanimously approved by the township board of commissioners Monday calls for 57 townhomes and 59 single-unit homes on 35 acres at 3626 Rural Road The townhomes will be priced in the high $400,000s while the single-unit homes will cost $525,000 to $535,000 Board approval was given contingent on the developer complying with the following conditions: board President Thomas Slonaker offered a friendly warning to both Canavan and project manager Justin Strahorn “I’ve been dealing with you all during this process,” Slonaker said “And you haven’t wavered in what I think of you being honest and forthright I hope to hell you’re not giving me a line now.” During the public comment part of the meeting several township residents voiced opposition to the developer’s plan to cut down a significant number of trees to build the homes Board member Ken Snyder noted the developers met all the zoning requirements and township solicitor John Gross said the plan complies with subdivision and land development ordinances board Vice President Jeffrey Warren said he voted in favor of the project “We didn’t listen to the LVPC” regarding land protection policies "I think we should be paying attention more to the township as a whole and not just walking a project to the end to see how many homes we can get in there.” discussion of a plan for Phase 2 of the historic Mickley-Prydun Farm renovation was tabled The 1835 farmhouse is on 12 acres at 3540 Ruch St The project calls for renovating the interior and exterior of the building to make it usable The plan also includes rehabbing the outside brick façade and repairing the wood beam structure The township board is awaiting a cost figure from Gordian Construction Other planned work at the farm includes renovating the bathroom for ADA accessibility The project is funded through a Community Development Block Grant and a Local Share Account grant Mickley-Prydun Farm dates to the Revolutionary War The property once was the home of John Mickley Sr. who brought the Liberty Bell by wagon from Philadelphia to Allentown for safekeeping from the British Commissioners awarded approval for construction of a car wash at 2601 and 2631 MacArthur Road A Sparkle Car Wash is planned for the site at MacArthur Commons shopping center has been modified from a request to build a car wash and an entertainment unit to eliminate the entertainment unit and expand the size of the car wash The board also gave approval to the following: Cloudy with more rounds of showers and possibly some downpours or a t-storm A kids' camp in Lehigh County is honoring one of its biggest benefactors - A kids' camp in Lehigh County is honoring one of its biggest benefactors Valley Youth House hosted a dedication ceremony on Wednesday for Koze Family Hall at Camp Fowler in North Whitehall Township and his family for their generous contributions to the camp The year-round camp is run by Valley Youth House which helps empower abused and homeless kids through special programs — A transportation plan to identify strategies to make some of the more dangerous roadways in South Whitehall Township safer was advanced by the board of commissioners on Wednesday The board adopted a resolution for Phase 1 of the South Whitehall Transportation Plan The plan is to eliminate high injury crashes and enhance safety throughout the township The priority areas represent specific locations where crash history and roadway conditions warrant immediate action presented details of the plan to commissioners “There are six priority corridors,” Bowman Senior Project Manager Randy Waltermyer said “We’re going to do a road safety audit to study them.” Funding will come from Safe Streets for All a new federal program designed to help advance the nation’s goal of zero roadway deaths South Whitehall Township roadways experienced 49 high injury crashes resulting in a fatality (11 crashes) or serious injury (39 crashes) Phase 1 covers public engagement and public safety “The township has recognized that these types of crashes are not only unacceptable but also avoidable,” the report said “And it has made a commitment to taking the steps needed to eliminate future high injury crashes “This plan aims to lay the foundation for achieving this goal by identifying existing safety concerns and offering potential solutions that can create a transportation network that is safe comfortable and accessible for all modes of travel and for people of all ages and abilities.” Commissioners also approved a motion to create a Vision Zero Task Force in the township The task force oversees and guides implementation of Vision Zero strategies within a specific community or jurisdiction It aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by addressing the systems that contribute to road crashes The task force would meet two or three times a year and coordinate with the Public Safety Commission The township would need the approval of the PSC to implement the plan township Planner Christopher Strohler said Waltermyer said the transportation study will be a tremendous advantage for the township “This provides us a roadmap to ensure we’re taking positive steps,” he said Last spring, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission started the process of applying to become a Vision Zero region A year before, South Whitehall Commissioners had voted to adopt a new Traffic Calming Policy which outlined the process for the township to implement speed reduction measures in neighborhoods they are now entering or anticipating the first phase of Safe Streets and Vision Zero In January, Bethlehem officials announced improvements that will include installation of curb bump outs and pedestrian refuge islands at certain intersections to reduce the crossing distance This week, Allentown officials said similar plans are in place and speed cushions and other minor traffic-calming measures are soon to be installed at 20 locations around city schools and parks The Lehigh County Coroner says a Whitehall Township man was intentionally struck by a motor vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot Friday - The Lehigh County Coroner says a Whitehall Township man was intentionally struck by a motor vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot Friday Fistner was pronounced dead in Lehigh Valley Hospital Crews responded to the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1300 block of N 14th Street near Overlook Road in Whitehall Township around 6 p.m as were officers from several police departments They taped off a large area near the complex and into the street and brought in lights to continue their investigation into the night Several cars in the parking lot had damage and appeared to have been involved in a crash One of the cars had heavy front-end damage A police drone was being flown above the scene at one point Neighbors say multiple ambulances responded to the scene as well One neighbor says she saw first responders taking a stretcher out "My son was coming home and as he was pulling in he saw a gray sedan hit a white SUV in the parking lot across from our apartment (he) came in and told me," said Stacey Watkins there was more bangs and crashes and from that point we came out here." More information on the incident is expected to be released later Saturday This is a developing story. Stay tuned to 69 News for updates, or go to WFMZ.com — A proposed development of 116 townhomes and single-unit homes has been delayed over concerns about an inadequate number of parking spaces The township board of commissioners at a workshop Monday again reviewed a subdivision/land development plan named Emerson Village The plan calls for construction of townhomes and single-unit homes on 35 acres at 3626 Rural Road Commissioner Ken Snyder voiced his worry that the development lacks a sufficient number of parking spaces in addition to garage parking and the current number of parking lot spaces in the plan The north side of the development will have an additional 29 parking spaces But the south side plan shows no additional parking “And that part of the development has more residences,” Snyder said “I’d like to see some additional overflow parking Commissioners also voiced concern about the absence of trees along sidewalks in the plan The plan will be reviewed at a full meeting of the board of commissioners at 7 p.m “I will not vote to approve this plan unless they [developer W.B Homes Inc.] have answers,” Commissioner Jeffrey Warren said The applicant also is seeking as many as 18 waivers for the project The development would encompass two phases and take several years to complete The project also includes widening Rural Road to 14 feet Commissioners favorably reviewed a plan for Phase 2 of the historic Mickley-Prydun Farm renovation which will be reviewed at commissioners' Monday meeting awards the contract to renovate the interior and exterior of the building to make it usable That includes rehabbing the outside brick façade and repairing the wood beam structure Commissioners also are scheduled next week to vote on a proposal to construct a car wash at 2601 and 2631 MacArthur Road has been modified from a request to build a car wash and an entertainment unit to eliminating the entertainment unit and expand the size of the car wash near Parkland High School on Cedar Crest Boulevard We're following breaking news in Lehigh County Emergency crews responded early this morning to a serious crash in South Whitehall Township It appears a car went off the road and hit a tree The Lehigh Valley Coroner was not called to the scene No word yet on the condition of the driver or if anyone else was in the vehicle This is an ongoing story and will be updated — Whitehall Township treasurer/tax collector Tina Koren is asking Lehigh County Court to reject the township board of commissioners' president’s bid for her job Democrat Thomas Slonaker submitted paperwork to run for treasurer/tax collector in the May 20 primary election filed a petition objecting to Slonaker’s financial disclosure forms Slonaker and Koren are the only two candidates running for tax collector Slonaker filed his statement of financial interests with the county board of elections by March 4 Slonaker did not file that document with Whitehall Township by the March 11 deadline That means he should not appear on the ballot as a Democratic candidate for Whitehall Township treasurer/tax collector Slonaker was Whitehall Township treasurer from 1994-97 When she was a candidate for Whitehall Township mayor in 2023 Koren herself was accused of not filing a complete statement of financial interest a son of then-Democratic mayoral candidate and current Mayor Joseph Marx Jr. saying Koren allegedly failed to file a statement of financial interest with the township A memorandum issued by Lehigh County Judge Michele Varricchio said Koren filed a required financial statement with the Lehigh County Board of Election and the township Kade Marx testified that the financial statement she filed was for her current elected position as she had not checked off the box marked candidate Varricchio said Marx had not raised the box as an issue in filing his appeal and thus could not bring it up — The five-week vacancy on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners will be filled on Wednesday Commissioners on Monday night conducted interviews with three candidates to fill the vacant seat created when Robert Piligian resigned on Feb The term of the seat Piligian filled expires at the end of 2025 long-time civil servants in Whitehall Township and newcomer Taylor Stakes each was interviewed for 30 minutes The new commissioner will be appointed at a special meeting at 7 p.m He is a Whitehall High School graduate and former director of the township’s recreation department He taught social studies in the school district for 35 years and was a football coach at Whitehall and Nazareth Area High School He has a bachelor's degree from Kutztown University “I want to be an independent voice in government,” Cocca I’ll try to be black-and-white; there’s not a lot of gray in my life "I figured I’d take the opportunity here and see if it works.” Cocca said he is interested in adding more recreation facilities in the township and also in increasing its industrial base have manufacturing and getting people a steady income,” he said Cocca said he is “vehemently” against any more warehouses being built in the township Cocca is not on the ballot for the election primary on May 20 “I’ve gone through 30 years of coaching at various places before I became a head coach Stakes relocated to Whitehall in 2023 with his wife and three young children He worked as a city council aide in San Antonio and was involved in planning and zoning Stakes told the board he also volunteered for his homeowners association “It was a 975-homes community that had a lot of similar issues that plague a city — traffic said he hopes to bring his expertise and skills in municipal government to Whitehall “I have time to commit to serving the people of Whitehall,” he said Stakes holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master's from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio a mental health care company for higher education Stakes also serves as an adjunct professor in the Lehigh Carbon Community College communications department He formerly worked in the communications department at Lehigh University Among the pressing issues Stakes sees in Whitehall are the safety of MacArthur Road responsible development and ensuring the zoning codes represent the goals of the city has served Whitehall Township in a variety of positions he was on the board of commissioners for 24 years the planning commission for six years and the traffic advisory board for five years He also served on the school board relations commission is not on the ballot for the primary election in May because that’s what you’re looking for,” he said of filling out the term of Piligian’s seat “I know the difference between an ordinance and a resolution I missed two meetings in 24 years as a commissioner.” Ginder said he is not opposed to implementing a tax increase to meet a budget “if it’s to do what residents expect of us.” "If taxes have to be raised to make the township meet the budget to do what residents want us to do He got a bachelor's degree at Eastern Kentucky University in 1975 and spent 40 years as a mechanical contractor — A Lehigh County judge has ruled a Republican candidate’s nominating petition for township board of commissioners invalid Varricchio handed down her ruling late Tuesday afternoon following a hearing that morning Charles as a candidate for the May 20 primary election Republican candidate LoriAnn Fehnel filed the challenge on March 14 against Charles based on alleged deficiencies on the latter’s petition Fehnel contended that Charles did not completely fill out her Statement of Financial Interests nor did she file it with the township secretary Fehnel also contended that Line 7 of Charles’s nominating petition does not contain the name of a valid elector was rendered invalid because he is not a registered Republican in the township The exclusion of that signature from the petition left the candidate one signature short of the 10 required by state statute Brian Charles subsequently submitted his voter application to change his registration to Republican on March 16 The judge heard testimony from township commissioner Elizabeth Fox Lehigh County Chief Clerk to the Election Board Timothy Benyo township executive assistant Larissa Bruder and Charles Fehnel is running for township commissioner for a third time The following candidates will be on the ballot for commissioner:Democrats: Thomas Slonaker third seat is now vacant.Republicans: Lee Christman — After a year-long search for a permanent police chief South Whitehall Township finally thinks it has found its man The board of commissioners on Wednesday are expected to appoint former South Brunswick A resolution on the appointment is listed on the agenda for the board of commissioners’ meeting at 7 p.m Lombardo will fill the vacancy created when Police Chief Glen Dorney resigned in March 2024 after six years to become corporate security manager for PPL Police Capt. Stephen Brown has served as South Whitehall Township’s interim/acting chief of police during the search for a permanent chief was an officer with the South Brunswick Township Police Department from 1995-2024 He held various leadership positions and retired as captain on Feb Lombardo will be tasked with the organization staffing and performance of the township police department and its officers and employees Lombardo holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Planning and Design from Rutgers University a master of administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a doctor of education in Human and Organizational Learning from George Washington University Lombardo received numerous commendations and awards in law enforcement Medal of Valor and multiple Excellent Service Awards Lombardo attended Somerset County Police Academy before serving as a patrol officer Lombardo began his career with the patrol bureau and served as field training officer honor guard commander and team leader for the emergency response team He later was the traffic safety bureau lieutenant and finished his career as captain of Community Services Command Lombardo also served as president of the Fraternal Order of Police in New Brunswick Lombardo was a finalist for the vacant chief of police position in Norristown the board of commissioners approved a new police chief search after an initial search failed to yield a satisfactory candidate A new contract with Aspirant Consulting Group to continue a search cost $9,500 An additional cost of $1,750 was listed for an oral interview panel as part of the process the board approved a contract for $9,000 with The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association for an initial search Township Manager Tom Petrucci said that was in part because of the unexpected death of Gregory Bean the manager of the organization leading the process At a board of commissioners meeting in October, many township residents voiced displeasure over the decision,saying the extra funds being spent were a waste of taxpayer money or would significantly extend the search timeline for the position of police chief Lombardo has long sought to lead a police department of his own Lombardo was unanimously appointed to the position of South Whitehall Township chief of police by the township board of commissioners “This is the type of policing and the type of community I looked to be part of,” Lombardo said Lombardo said he was offered the position several weeks ago He was selected from among 40 candidates who were interviewed He will be paid an annual salary of $162,000 was an officer with the South Brunswick Township Lombardo will fill the vacancy created when Police Chief Glen Dorney resigned in March 2024 after six years to become corporate security manager for PPL Police Capt. Stephen Brown has served as South Whitehall Township’s interim/acting chief of police during the search for a permanent chief The police department comprises the chief and 43 officers I will push you to do your best and always have your back,” Lombardo told several township police officers at the meeting Commissioners Secretary Jacob Roth said he was struck by Lombardo’s integrity values and humbleness during the interview process “You’re the man for this moment and you’ve earned this,” Roth told Lombardo who was supported by his family at the meeting “Your knowledge of South Whitehall Township and knowledge of the challenges we face and the ability to assess the challenges this community will face has really shown through.” Commissioners President Diane Kelly added: “I found Frank to be highly professional and exceptionally knowledgeable Lombardo said he has been extremely impressed by the current police department in the short time he has had to review it “My impression of the force is that it is squared away,” he said They have a deep sense of pride in policing and have a great sense of pride in the department “So I’m going to work carefully with them to make sure I preserve that while we move forward commissioners approved a resolution extending conditional preliminary/final approval of a development plan for a trailer parking area at 1429 Eck Road Triple Net Investments is requesting a three-month extension to June 20 proposes to construct a 79-trailer space parking area on the 5.11-acre parcel Twelve spaces will be used as 16 reserved standard parking spaces includes the construction of a guard shack on the 5.11-acre parcel The property is zoned Industrial Commercial An application to expand the parking lot at the Allentown Cat Clinic at 4090 W submitted by owners David and Michele Paul proposes to add 11 parking spaces to the existing 13-space lot on a 0.70-acre portion of the property The plan includes adding corresponding parking lot lighting and the paving of an additional 600 square feet of existing gravel to accommodate staff parking A motion authorizing the township manager to execute a professional services contract to conduct a professional public opinion poll for the conservation finance feasibility study was tabled The Trust for Public Land or Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion would conduct a public-opinion poll for an amount up to but not exceeding $20,000 Members of the board rejected the motion for reasons ranging from people contacted not answering for fear it was spam to believing the money could be better used by sending postcards on the topic directly to township residents An ordinance would need to be passed by July to place the issue on the ballot A motion to proceed with buying three Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for the police department was approved The total cost of the vehicles is $247,341 All new vehicles will replace current front line patrol vehicles — A plan for 116 townhomes and single-unit homes on Rural Road got preliminary final approval from Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Wednesday The board also tabled plans for a 190,400-square-foot distribution facility and 14 single-family home development would be built on 35 acres at 3626 Rural Road The plan also would widen Rural Road to 14 feet The project next will be reviewed by the township Board of Commissioners “We’d like to begin construction in the next few months,” Project Manager Justin Strahorn of W.B “But we still need approval from the full board of commissioners to proceed The project will encompass two phases and take several years Before proceeding before the planning commission the project was required to be consistent with the Act 167 plan the Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act of 1978 as issued by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission in January “We needed this consistency letter before approval of a land development application could be approved,” Strahorn said which is near the proposed development project requested that a section of trees on the parcel be preserved until Phase 2 of the two-phase project WB Homes has no plan to remove those trees until Phase 2 begins Strahorn previously said the developer would preserve one of six acres of trees from a wooded area on the parcel Commission Chairman Jonathan Bolton requested WB Homes get a waiver to use asphalt instead of concrete on a meandering path on the parcel Township solicitor Jack Gross also requested the developer get easements for the public sidewalks and walking paths as parts of the paths are outside the right-of-way a proposed 190,400-square-foot distribution facility on Range Road was tabled after a lengthy discussion the 13.95-acre lot would be created from an existing 37.19-acre parcel near 2625 Range Road The land is in the I-industrial Zoning District and currently is a wooded lot with remnants of an open quarry and an iron mine and Engineer Rocco Caracciolo of Jaindl Land Co Among the issues remaining to be addressed are state Transportation Department approval of the developer’s plan for improvements at Range Road and Eberhart Road/ curb landscaping and the type of surface for a path connecting West Catasauqua Playground and Range Roads ball fields Developers agreed to a township fire department directive to construct a 26-foot-wide fire access road to the rear of the development Temporary easements for construction will be required and must be discussed with the board of commissioners in advance of the plan progressing we can’t push this through right now," Bolton said we are definitely coming to a good partnership.” a major subdivision/residential land development project along Bridge Street was tabled The project proposes subdividing nearly 8 acres and constructing 14 single-family residential homes at 4181 Bridge St Discussion on the project first was tabled in August due to grading that would impact the construction of sidewalks — A proposed distribution facility at the Fullerton Terminals facility got unanimous approval from Whitehall Township commissioners Monday Developers of the 190,400-square-foot facility needed approval of a conditional use request to proceed The 13.95-acre lot will be created from an existing 37.19-acre parcel near Range Road The land is located in the I-industrial Zoning District The site would accommodate 30 tractor-trailer loading docks 148 employee parking lot spaces and 44 tractor-trailer parking spaces The developers were represented on Monday by Jaindl Land Co township Commissioner Robert Piligian outlined the conditions upon which the board had agreed Among them were the limit of 40 tractor-trailer trips entering the facility and 40 trips exiting the facility per day the site would not be used as a fulfillment center and a fire suppression system would be installed on site The applicant also would be required to place pedestrian connectivity between Range Road Park and West Catasauqua Playground as was agreed upon during land development Several residents addressed the board to express concern over traffic in the area of the proposed facility Resident Robert Bloom asked the board what guarantee there will be that trucks will only travel Range Road to Eberhardt Road “Who is going to control the traffic there?” he said “We have enough accidents between there and MacArthur Road.” Board President Thomas Slonaker told Bloom truck drivers who violate the agreement will be cited Township Engineer Frank Clark said the traffic concerns in the area will be examined during a PennDOT scoping study Commissioners at the November meeting voiced concerns over presumed significant increase in tractor trailer-traffic in the area around the site representatives of Landston Equities LLC tried to persuade the board that the amount of increased traffic from the facility would not adversely affect the area contracts were approved for the Ironton Rail Trail Trailhead parking facility improvements projects Pioneer Construction will perform the construction at a cost of $342,638.02 and Navarro & Wright will serve as the project inspector at a cost of $33,559.18 Bids were awarded by the state Transportation Department The township received a grant of just over $320,000 for the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways Trails and Recreation Program for the Ironton Rail Trail Paving and Gates Project The Ironton Rail Trail connects nearly a dozen parks and two dozen historical sites in east-central Lehigh County The rail-trail comprises a five-mile loop around Coplay and Hokendauqua on the Lehigh River north of Allentown and a four-mile spur west toward Ironton The grant would help fund repaving of the loop and installation of security gates at key intersections by streets in the township and Coplay Borough A plan to add 73 apartments at Fellowship Community independent living facility at 3600 Mauch Chunk Road appears near approval At issue were concerns by the commissioners over the ability of emergency vehicles The project consists of building 73 independent apartment units over three buildings each standing three stories and measuring just over 15,000 square feet Commissioners are in favor of the developers creating a sidewalk or path from Emerson Village to Fellowship Drive and also from the Schadt Avenue Playground to the apartment expansion area Developers said they would review the request — Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners will conduct public interviews with candidates on Monday to fill the seat left open by a member's recent resignation Board member Robert Piligian tendered his resignation to the township administration on Feb Interviews will be conducted starting at 6 p.m Piligian was appointed to the board of commissioners in February 2024 resigned after being elected township mayor in January Piligian joined the commissioners after serving on the township’s planning committee since being appointed in 2000 He also has experience working on the traffic impact committee for at least 15 years In accordance with the township’s Home Rule Charter the vacancy was advertised in Lehigh Valley media and on the township’s website The vacancy must be filled 45 days from the time of the vacancy March 14 was the deadline to submit applications from residents who are qualified voters and have been township residents continuously for at least a year Such was the decision by the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners to reject advancing a ballot referendum proposal regarding the township Treasurer Tina J. Koren with Board President Thomas Slonaker abstaining Snyder made a motion to approve the referendum voters would have been asked to cede electoral authority to township officials who then would appoint the treasurer Proponents said the change would allow for easier removal if the appointed official were offering lackluster performance Opponents indicated it would undermine voters' authority over their government Koren’s four-year term expires in December Snyder failed to persuade the board to let him Monday present the reasons why he is in favor of placing the issue on the ballot “I want to get the chance to put the motion up for reconsideration,” he said prior to the board not letting him present Snyder was on vacation and did not attend the January meeting but for me there was just a referendum two years ago and 70 percent voted against it,” board Secretary Alberta Scarfaro said Commissioner Robert Piligian agreed that voting for a referendum at this stage is too soon after the most recent vote of township residents “I supported the referendum last time and it got no support," Piligian said Added board Vice President Jeffrey Warren: "I do think [the referendum] would be a tough sell in a short period since the last time there was a vote “I don’t have a problem hearing your proposal But I don’t think we have the votes [to approve it] up here.” The rejection of the referendum marked the second time the board voted it down since December Whitehall Township has tried a referendum question on the same topic before but voters rejected it in the 2023 municipal primary The referendum's impetus extends years previous involving a fraud investigation of the treasurer's office after irregularities were reportedly discovered in 2019 Those irregularities included missing funds totaling about $78,000 Last Dec. 4, township Treasurer Tina Koren filed a federal lawsuit against Mayor Joseph Marx Jr alleging retaliatory acts stemming from Koren's 2023 mayoral candidacy Snyder complained to the board that he is being “lambasted” on Facebook by people claiming he has a “person in his back pocket” to replace Koren should the referendum pass “I don’t have anybody for this position,” Snyder said Snyder also disputed claims that he is in collusion with Marx to get rid of Koren Snyder also questioned the board about Koren leaving the proceedings prior to adjournment in three of the past four meetings "How are we going to ask her questions if she doesn't stay?" he asked the board adopted an ordinance increasing the annual salary of the treasurer 2% each year for 2026-29 the treasurer’s annual salaries for those years will be $41,263 The "what" is the mayor’s publicly stated intention to temporarily close Water Street in the Darktown section of the township while a long-term traffic safety plan is developed to address the decades-long problem of speeding vehicles on the unusually narrow street but we’re 70 percent there,” Marx said Tuesday of plans to transform the street into a cul-de-sac Marx at a board of commissioners meeting in February stated his intention to temporarily close the street The speeding issue on Water Street returned to the fore after Edward D 25 while crossing the street outside his home in the 3200 block An investigation into the incident continues No initial determination was made as to whether the driver of the vehicle that struck Tomcics was speeding on the street Marx said he has had “extensive meetings with Peter Terry “Terry is working on a letter to PennDOT as a courtesy to let them know what we’re planning We don’t need their approval to close the street; we’re doing it as a courtesy He’s also working on the signage and verbiage we’ll need there “Frank is dealing with the turnaround on Water Street if we do this Jack is working on legal aspects and the documents needed.” After a review of information from the aforementioned experts plans to implement a temporary street closure must be posted to inform street and area residents must be posted to alert motorists on how to proceed “We would first need to get all that signage in place,” Marx said Among the strategies for temporarily closing Water Street are installing a donated and PennDOT-approved railroad crossing gate at the end of the street near Eberhard Road The possibility of a temporary closing has been approved by township police angry and concerned residents packed the subsequent February commissioners’ meeting to urge the board to address the issue transportation planner for the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission He also met with members of the Local Technical Assistance Program a state organization that offers local governments on road closures “LTAP suggested we create a traffic study in the township by committee,” Marx said “They said we should create a traffic committee to look at traffic calming not just on Water Street I’ll leave it up to the board to create the committee.” The possibility of a temporary closing of Water Street has been cleared by township police and fire department A petition directed by Marx and circulated among Water Street residents regarding a temporary street closure to address the problem garnered 70% approval “A closure is going to be inconvenient,” he said An analysis of traffic on Water Street over the past five years indicated some vehicles traveling two and nearly three times the speed limit A 2020 analysis from July 8-14 showed some vehicles traveling as fast as 67 mph 3-9 this year detected some cars at speeds of 57 mph Those analyses also showed an inordinate number of vehicles using the road A total of 14,900 cars were detected in the 2020 study while 16,186 were counted in the January study Marx has also spoken with Whitehall Coplay School District Superintendent Christopher A Schiffert and Transportation Supervisor Jeffrey Bauder regarding the safety of school children waiting for bus pickup children living along Water Street must walk to Lehigh Street to get the bus The street closure would allow for bus pickup on Water Street with residences no more than 2 feet off the berm “Water Street is almost like a colonial cartway,” Marx said comparing it to the unpaved roads or paths used by horse-drawn carts during the 17th and 18th centuries there were no rules or regulations in place The width of the cartway doesn’t fit into township standards today.” Marx said there are concerns that would accompany simply installing speed bumps along Water Street to slow traffic “Someone driving could hit several speed bumps The township has a fiduciary to protect everyone not just people who live on the street but the drivers too “It’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and a pseudo traffic engineer until you realize what’s there.” Until Marx and the township gather all the pertinent information “I don’t know if this is a forever fix,” he said 2024Several people were rescued from an apartment complex fire in Lehigh County's Whitehall early Friday morning.WHITEHALL TWP. (WPVI) -- Several people were rescued from an apartment complex fire in Lehigh County's Whitehall Township early Friday morning Fire crews used ladders to rescue those inside the complex as the blaze escalated to 3 alarms Crews have since been able to get the fire under control — A Whitehall Township tax collector and treasurer has filed federal lawsuits against the township and mayor based on allegations that she was obstructed from doing her job Tina Koren filed a suit against both Mayor Joseph Marx and Whitehall Township Tuesday accusing the defendants of subjecting her to “frivolous” and “unfounded” grievances and a supposed “rebellion” among her employees at the tax office These allegations came to light in early September 2024 when Mobilio issued a press release laying out the claims and stating Koren would seek legal action Koren notably lost the mayoral race to Marx in Nov though allegations in the court filing date back to shortly after she was sworn into her position in early 2022 Koren makes accusations her requests for additional part-time help in her office were rejected by tax clerk Andrea Judge “likely at the direction of and with permission from Mayor Marx and Whitehall Township.” Further details in the complaint point out Koren elicited assistance from the mayor and the board of commissioners due to “the hostility of the staff and the need for intervention and assistance,” though no action was taken Additional commentary in the filing showed Marx allegedly pressured Koren not to run for mayor promising her a position in his administration if she did not Koren ran for mayor on the Republican ticket Marx also supposedly pushed a referendum to eliminate Koren’s position and allegedly had his son “file a frivolous challenge to [Koren’s] nominating position” to the Republican Party despite the fact he was ineligible to do so Further issues in the complaint include claims that in July and August 2024 Marx directed the township’s chief of police to restrict Koren’s access to parts of the township building; that Marx told other employees Koren was “effectively banned” from parts of the township building; Koren was banned from staff meetings; effectively closing the tax office due to a lack of staff; and ultimately The complaint cites Koren’s First Amendment rights to defend her actions including running for mayor issuing complaints directed toward the township and board of commissioners pointing out the “harassment and hostility” she faced from her employees and attending and speaking at public meetings The response from the mayor and his “agents and representatives” included the filing of false grievances against Koren the filing of a false police report and attempting to have Koren arrested supporting the elimination of Koren’s office and refusing to provide her with the means to do her job A second count cites the defendants for enacting indifferent policies and supervision in violation of the First Amendment A third count directed toward Marx individually cites intentional inflection of emotional distress followed by a fourth count directed at Marz for negligent inflection of emotional distress Koren is seeking compensatory and consequential damages You can find Lehighvalleynews.com's previous coverage of this story here — Whitehall Township Commissioner Thomas Slonaker's name cannot appear on the Democratic ballot for township treasurer/tax collector in the May 20 primary election Judge Melissa Pavlack ruled Monday that Slonaker did not file a statement of financial interest with the township prior to the March 11 filing deadline Candidates seeking office in the county must file financial statements of interest to both the township and the county board of elections the Democratic incumbent treasurer/tax collector She has no opposition now on the Democratic or Republican ballot Slonaker filed his statement of financial interests with the county board of elections is running again for township commissioner He served as township treasurer/tax collector from 1994-97 the township board of commissioners rejected an ordinance to initiate a referendum on the primary election ballot to amend the township charter to eliminate the treasurer’s position and instead appoint a finance director Should the proposed $33.7 million Whitehall Township fiscal budget for 2025 be approved by the township board of commissioners next week the main reason for the $2.6 million increase will be the increased cost of dealing with garbage Good news for township residents is that no real estate tax increase is proposed The $33,768,584 million budget was among a host of items discussed at the commissioners’ workshop session Monday Of the $2.6 million budget increase from 2024 garbage collection accounts for $2.1 million The budget establishes the finances for the general fund debt service fund and capital reserve fund The increases in expenses for 2025 include building maintenance costs due to the increased square footage requiring janitorial services and consulting services a Teamsters’ contract wage increase of 4.25% a non-union employees’ wage increase of 3.50% a 5% wage increase for the 51-person Whitehall Police Officers’ Bargaining Unit and a $205,000 increase in Development Bureau operations comprehensive plan update and stormwater facilities inspections The annual garbage collection fee would be $615 — increased “impactfully,” according to Mayor Joseph Marx Jr Those with a second garbage receptacle will pay an extra $130 The garbage fee will be billed to each customer of the township’s Municipal Solid Waste/Recycling Collection program Customers will get a 2% discount for initially paying the fee in full Residents 72 years old and older will get a 25% discount Customers also have the option to pay the fee in three installments Marx said Whitehall is not a growing community Since countywide reassessment occurred in 2013 has lost $48 million in taxable assessed property Upper Macungie Township added $1.1 billion South Whitehall added $301 million and Coplay added $8 million Whitehall has lost $181,000 in real estate tax revenue The end of 2024 also will mark completion of the use of the $2.9 million State and Local Fiscal Recovery funding The township is projected to end 2024 with a $66,000 surplus Pioneer Construction will perform the construction at a cost of $342,638.02 and Navarro & Wright will serve as the project inspector at a cost of $33,559.18 The township got a grant of just over $320,000 for the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways The rail-trail comprises a five-mile loop around Coplay and Hokendauqua on the Lehigh River north of Allentown and a 4-mile spur west toward Ironton The grant would help fund repaving of the loop and installation of security gates at key intersections by streets in the township and Coplay Borough A developer’s conditional use request for a 190,400-square-foot distribution facility at the proposed Fullerton Terminals facility at 2451 Main St Commissioners at the November meeting voiced concerns over presumed significant increase in tractor trailer traffic in the area around the site tried to persuade the board that the amount of increased traffic from the facility would not adversely affect the area The 13.952-acre site would accommodate 30 tractor-trailer loading docks A plan to add 73 apartments at the Fellowship Community independent living facility at 3600 Mauch Chunk Road appears on the way to being approved board member Robert Piligian said Township Fire Chief Mark Bilder is “OK” with the developer’s plan — A contentious discussion between the board of commissioners and residents Monday concluded with the board voting unanimously to approve a five-year The township in October voted to change its municipal solid waste hauler from Waste Management The annual trash fee will increase from $335 to $615 — an 86.63% increase “I talked to the trash haulers about why costs have increased,” Whitehall Mayor Joseph J the township was contacted by Waste Management to notify that it wouldn’t be honoring the extension of the contract because to do so would cause the company to lose money The township subsequently put the trash collection contract out for bid Residents requiring a second garbage receptacle will pay an extra $130 Resident Lori Ann Fehnel chastised the board for not rejecting the Mascaro trash fee She turned to the residents in attendance and said The trash fee will be billed to each customer of the township’s Municipal Solid Waste/Recycling Collection program Marx revealed Whitehall is not a growing community Mascaro charges an annual fee of $660 per residence “Prices have gone through the roof,” Commissioner Robert Piligian said “You’re not paying the same as you did five years ago for gasoline Nothing has gone down; it’s all going through the roof When the treasurer said that’s not going to happen “You’re not going to change the [trash fee increase] numbers or go to individual haulers.” heated exchange took place between township Treasurer/Tax Collector Tina J Koren and board members over trash fee installments Koren said she wasn’t aware the board had decided in October to give residents the option of paying the trash fee in installments Koren said she has contacted the Berks County Intermediate Unit 14 which informed her its software program does not allow for installments Deputy Mayor John Meyers told Koren she was aware of the installment plan during the budget hearing “It was in the budget packet that all departments received,” Meyers told Koren Added Snyder: “You walked out of the budget meeting early.” Koren said she left the meeting early because of the way Snyder was speaking to her Residents now will have to wait until March or April to have the option of paying in three installments Board Secretary Randy Atiyeh said the miscommunication between the board and the tax office has foisted a burden on residents “Somebody dropped the ball on this,” Atiyeh said “I’m going to find out what happened here.” Board member Allie Scarfaro said she felt “uncomfortable” voting on the trash fee increase because of the miscommunication The $33.7 million township fiscal budget for 2025 was unanimously approved The budget has a $2.6 million increase from 2024 including a $2.1 million increase in trash collection building maintenance costs because of the increased square footage requiring janitorial services and consulting services Commissioners Ken Snyder and Piligian complimented the board on its time and effort in arriving at the budget — South Whitehall Township on Wednesday approved a $21.5 million budget with no planned increase to property taxes The township tax millage would remain at 2.85 mills meaning owners of a home valued at $200,000 for tax purposes would pay $570 a year in property tax The flat rate for sewer usage is set to increase from $87.50 to $91 per household the metered rate from $4.79 to $4.98 per 1,000 gallons and the base charge from $35 to $36 per quarter The township expects revenue of $20,881,474.37 to its general fund in 2025 and the deficit is set to be solved by carrying forward money from its 2024 surplus The most expensive line item on the budget is the new water reservoir According to the township documents it involves building a new water reservoir on Brickyard Road to accommodate future development and ensure a reliable water supply for residents and commercial properties It would provide a storage capacity of 6 million gallons the township cites Nestlé's factory operations in the area as being the main driver of the need for a new reservoir The second most expensive budget item is related one — water pumps The new pumps are expected to cost $500,000 and include a plan to replace all four pumps at the Springhouse water station: two booster and two fire pumps The budget says they're "crucial" for pumping water from the south end of the township to the reservoir and ensuring efficient water distribution Another project in the budget is building of a pickleball court and other site improvements at Vistas Park with $200,000 from state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grants Another ongoing project aims to address sewer issues identified in the township's previous Klines Island Corrective Action Plan It includes repairs and upgrades to the sewer system to reduce infiltration and inflow the project will continue over the next seven years The budget also calls for replacing some police vehicles that have aged to the point where they are no longer reliable The budget calls for newer police duty vehicles with more contemporary equipment such as communication tools and better visibility features "Acquiring three new patrol vehicles to replace aging units in our fleet represents a crucial investment in both operational efficiency and public safety," the budget document reads they are increasingly prone to maintenance issues and higher repair costs which can detract from their reliability and performance." The new vehicles and equipment are slated to cost $275,000 The township also plans to add a second 1998 Elgin Regenerative Street Sweeper to supplement the township's lone vehicle The budget states that the current one has been operated for nearly 7,000 hours and has "extensive rusting issues to the undercarriage area." Getting an identical one would mean the township wouldn't need to stock different types of parts for repair The budget also mentions the appeal of such a sweeper as it "is the kind of sweeper that will vacuum the fine silt up that gets into the storm pipes and creeks." with an option to finance it for three years The township also plans to buy six new meters for its sewer system — a total cost of $122,791.65 The new meters are set to replace the current six and serve as part of the Klines Island Sewer Plant Corrective Action Plan A third-party engineering firm came up with the recommendation to replace the existing meters The budget sets aside $65,813 to demolish two houses "no longer in good shape" that the township owns on Brickyard Road there are "no future needs for these buildings," and they want to clear up the space for potential future use but there is an added 10% for "contingency," which brings the total to $65,813 The township has set aside $60,000 for the final stages of a project to relocate several sewer lines off the Tilghman Street Bridge The SUV would be used as a township vehicle when employees need to go to events South Whitehall plans to buy a $100,000 used John Deere bulldozer for projects including grading streets and baseball fields and moving supplies and dirt at the municipal stockyard The townships would split maintenance costs for the dozer The township has set aside $45,000 per year until 2029 for 47 new model of Tasers for South Whitehall Police $30,000 is set to be spent on new water meters for the township The budget says current water meters have "gone bad," and needing replacements It says new meters can produce more accurate readings for accurate billing and monitoring — A Whitehall Township street where a man was struck and killed by a vehicle in December may be temporarily closed while a road safety plan is developed made the announcement at a township board of commissioners meeting Monday was killed in front of his home while crossing Water Street the night of Dec An investigation into the incident continues as to its cause have for years complained to the township about the amount of traffic that speeds on Water Street Residents packed the board of commissioners’ meeting last month urging the board to finally address the problem of speeding Marx also met with members of the Local Technical Assistance Program “They suggested we create a traffic study in the township by committee,” Marx said “I have the ability to close Water Street temporarily Board Vice President Jeffrey Warren said LTAP advised the township to develop a traffic calming plan not just for Water Street A petition directed by Marx and circulated among Water Street residents regarding a temporary street closure to address the problem was approved by 70% “The street was closed three years ago when the bridge was built,” Marx said — The open palms of some members of Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners could be interpreted as readying celebratory high-fives for Saquon Barkley as the Whitehall High School graduate and Philadelphia Eagles star prepares for Super Bowl LIX on Sunday others may believe they’re intended for the back of township Tax Collector and Treasurer Tina J Koren in an effort to show her to the door The dissatisfaction with Koren's performance by some board members was evident on the agenda of the board's workshop session Monday the agenda item detailed an ordinance to initiate a referendum on the upcoming ballot to amend the township charter to eliminate the treasurer position A finance director would be appointed to replace the treasurer Snyder requested placing the bill on the agenda after the commissioners’ December meeting “The only reason Mister Snyder wanted it on here was to discuss the appropriateness of the ordinance,” Gross said The item is expected to be discussed at a full commissioners’ meeting at 7 p.m which would surrender electoral authority to township officials Proponents said the change would allow for easier removal if the appointed official offered lackluster performance Koren was elected to a four-year term as tax collector in 2021 commissioners discussed a separate ordinance establishing the compensation rate for the township treasurer for 2026-29 Board Vice President Jeffrey Warren noted said the township treasurer has not gotten a raise in 10 of the past 20 years Board President Thomas Slonaker argued against a salary increase saying duties of the office have been reduced “What I see is you’re getting paid relatively more because you’re doing less even though the salary is the same,” Slonaker said “I welcome anybody on this board to come in and see how I do this job,” Koren said Piligian said technological advances have helped to increase the efficiency of the staff and allowed for the staff reduction On Dec. 4, Koren filed a federal lawsuit against Mayor Joseph J. Marx, Jr. and township officials alleging retaliatory acts stemming from Koren running against Marx for the mayoral seat Slonaker and Warren — were at Monday's meeting A quorum is not required for a municipal workshop meeting if the meeting does not involve legislative action A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group that must be present to conduct official business A pair of South Whitehall Township police officers are being commended for keeping the highways safe - A pair of South Whitehall Township police officers are being commended for keeping the highways safe Officers Nicholas Erdo and Zakkary Foster received a Task Force Choice Awards on Tuesday Police say between last summer and December more than 400 fake stickers were seized in South Whitehall Township alone They say spotting a fake one during a traffic stop can lead to other safety enforcements you get wanted people with warrants out of these stops Tuesday's awards were handed out at the DUI traffic safety conference sit-down restaurant that a developer hoped to bring to a mixed-use housing project at Ridge Farms is just not on the menu the township board of commissioners voted 3-2 against a text amendment request that would have allowed for the building of the restaurant A vote to approve the text amendment request would override the Traditional Neighborhood Development Residential Overlay zoning ordinance that limits a restaurant building on the property to 5,000 square feet A text amendment refers to a change to the text of the law or ordinance as written restaurants built on the mixed-use development at Cedar Crest Boulevard and Walbert Avenue can only be sit-down restaurants Whelihan’s Pub and Restaurant was being considered by the developer Several PJ Whelihan’s are close to Ridge Farms including one near Tilghman Street and Hausman Road A TND Residential Cluster Overlay refers to a zoning designation that applies the principles of TND to a residential area allowing for a clustered arrangement of homes on a parcel of land while still maintaining the underlying zoning district's regulations said South Whitehall has many successful restaurants that are 5,000 square feet “I’m reluctant to change anything that was agreed upon during the conditional use process,” she said “One of the things that is important to me is the public trust “I’m really reluctant to go forward with this.” said he would not go before the board again to lobby for the allowing of the larger restaurant “We’ll just build the apartments,” he said “The restaurant business is tough; there aren’t many new ones opening up There is some interest from a restaurant company to launch in a smaller property “But they would like more square footage.” township director of community development noted the board has expressed concerns about the larger restaurant request “I know requests for larger restaurants is a trend,” Manhardt said “But I struggle with the context without the rest of the development It would be hard to approve an 8,000-square-foot restaurant.” Commissioner Chris Peischl said he's in favor of allowing the larger restaurant to be built He pointed out how much fun his son and friends have watching football at such establishments “It’s something different that we don’t have in South Whitehall.” left the door open a crack for a larger restaurant I don’t know if I’m in favor of a text amendment,” he said “I’d like to see what happens post-residential [development] at that point I’d be more interested in looking at a text amendment.” Koze said he now is focused on “just keeping the project moving forward.” “The condos on the west side of the property should be in the summer time frame,” he said As for placing a 5,000-square-foot restaurant at Ridge Farms Koze said he could place one on the property “But I’m not comfortable right now with what’s out there,” he said the following reappointments were approved: Civil Service Commission solicitor— Eckert Seamans Pension Committee solicitor — Eckert Seamans Building Code Appeals Board solicitor— Lawrence B Township Tax Appeal Hearing Officer— Lawrence B Alternate Township Engineer — Keystone Consulting Engineers Sewage Enforcement Officer — Keystone Consulting Engineers Geotechnical Engineer — Hanover Engineering Alternate Sewage Enforcement Officer — Hanover Engineering Third-Party Residential Inspector — Barry Isett & Associates Third-Party Commercial Inspector — KeyCodes Inspection Agency Alternate Third-Party Residential Inspector — KeyCodes Inspection Agency Special Tax Counsel for township BP Tax Collection — Patrick M — The township mayor said he’s hopeful traffic safety measures soon will be in place on a stretch of road where a 75-year-old Marine veteran died on Christmas Night Edward Tomcics was fatally struck by a car as he crossed Water Street in front of his home in the township’s Darktown section just before 7 p.m Neighbors say the road along the Lehigh River is plagued by speeding cars and it's getting worse “I’ve been corresponding with Water Street residents since I became mayor” this year “They asked me if I could do traffic calming or what I could do and we appropriated enough money to purchase three digital speed warning signs.” Marx said money for the signs is in the 2025 budget approved by township commissioners solar-powered signs is earmarked for Water Street in Darktown he attended a vigil at the crash site and encouraged Darktown residents to go to the commissioners’ Jan “The only way you’re going to get help is to come out and speak your piece,” Marx said in an interview Friday “Unfortunately in this country we’re not proactive It takes an unfortunate incident like this to have action taken Marx said he was especially saddened because like him “My heart bleeds for this family and the people of Darktown,” Marx said I wish I could turn back the clock but I can’t I have the utmost respect for that gentleman Tomcics was thrown several feet after being hit by the car His family rushed outside after hearing the collision and found him severely injured on the side of the road There has been no word from township police on the crash or driver of the vehicle An investigation is underway by township police the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office Neighbors said police administered field sobriety tests to the driver and left with him in a patrol car Marx said he could not comment on the investigation but said “the driver was very cooperative and he did everything by the book township officials are well aware of complaints by Water Street residents about traffic safety The road is narrow and doesn’t have sidewalks Marx served nine years as a township commissioner including stints as president and vice president “They came before the board numerous times when I was a commissioner,” he said of Darktown residents But it’s a lot easier to talk about in concept than it is to actually do it.” The digital speed monitoring signs cost about $5,000 each and will be bought in the new year, Marx said. He wrote about them in the township’s winter newsletter including them as part of a project he called “the Mayor’s Initiative.” “I was successful in appropriating enough money to purchase three digital speed warning signs to introduce in areas that constituents have complained about speeding in their neighborhoods,” he wrote and they will be moved around throughout the Township hopefully people will recognize them and slow down.” he plans to work with the township engineer and solicitor to see what else can be done “It’s going to have to go to the board and it’s going to have to be a board action,” he said at the township municipal building at 3219 MacArthur Road Funeral services for Tomcics are set for Friday Whitehall Township residents expressed frustration after a 75-year-old man was killed crossing a street he previously told officials was dangerous – A normally routine meeting in part of Lehigh County was anything but that on Monday night the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners' meeting was like a shouting match The commotion was over a road in the township's "Darktown" neighborhood It's a street where things took a tragic turn on Christmas Day The president of the board of commissioners had to call for order a number of times in the packed room and he even used the threat of recess to get things to settle Many Darktown residents say they are angry and frustrated over what they call a lack of action by officials when it comes to Water Street Neighbors say the man previously sounded the alarm on how dangerous the road is and five young girls lost their grandfather," said Barbara Tomcics She says she thought she'd have her husband by her side for many more years to come She indicated her husband had been thrown several feet after impact and was found on the side of the road "My oldest granddaughter was the first one to see him lying on the street How would you feel in her shoes?" Barbara Tomcics directed at officials Edward Tomcics lived on Water Street his whole life and he had bad knees," his wife said tearfully there's a memorial and candles along the road that residents say they — and Tomcics — called dangerous for years because of your negligence," yelled LoriAnn Fehnel claim they asked for a study to be done on the road — which is narrow and has no sidewalks — years ago Multiple people went to the podium during public comment to express how dangerous they say the road is People repeatedly expressed the desire for having speed bumps installed according to Pennsylvania regulations," said Mayor Joseph Marx acknowledged the issue and said he's trying to do something "No one wanted to see this tragic event happen He's proposing turning Water Street into a cul-de-sac according to our engineers and our experts that will pacify and get the situation under control," said the mayor changes happen on the road and the outcome of the investigation into the incident Edward Tomcics' death "put a big hole in our hearts" said Jim Foss I just hope you all do the best you can" to improve public safety in the neighborhood The coroner said the 75-year-old died of blunt force injuries and called his death accidental There's no word right now on when the results of the police investigation will be released A proposed ballot referendum would have asked Whitehall voters whether to cede electoral authority to township officials who would appoint the treasurer A road in Whitehall Township is closed after a crash that happened on Saturday afternoon - A road in Whitehall Township is closed after a crash that happened on Saturday afternoon Lehigh County Communications confirmed that the crash happened around 3:30 p.m near the intersection of Mickley Road and West Union Street in Whitehall Township Mickley Road is currently closed as a result of the crash No injuries have been confirmed at this time The Hazleton City Police and District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce will hold a press conference on the investigation into the murder of Jessica Lockwood 2025First responders in Lehigh County rescued a man who fell through the ice on a frozen lake in Whitehall Township.WHITEHALL TWP. (WPVI) -- First responders in Lehigh County rescued a man who fell through the ice on a frozen lake in Whitehall Township They were called to the 4600 block of South Church Street Firefighters pulled the victim from the water RELATED: First responders urge people to stay off ice The fire broke out at the Independence Square Apartments complex - Fire crews from all over our area battled a major fire in Whitehall Township overnight The fire broke out at the Independence Square Apartments complex at 1 Marilyn Circle around 3 a.m 400 residents were evacuated from their apartments Several people had to be rescued from their balconies or through windows Investigators say the fire started in a storage closet on the second floor The Red Cross is currently assisting those who can't return to their homes This is a developing story.  Stay tuned to 69 News, or go to WFMZ.com Thomas Slonaker was in the crash that happened around 10:25 p.m in the 3500 block of MacArthur Road Monday WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. - The president of the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners was involved in a crash on MacArthur Road earlier this week Commissioner Elizabeth Fox said Slonaker was the "victim of a serious car accident." We have not heard from authorities on what led up to the crash "We ask for your thoughts and prayers for Tom as he navigates this difficult time Let’s work together to make our roads safer for everyone," Cox said in the Facebook post A 69 News freelance photojournalist that was at the scene Monday night saw three people being put into ambulances Crews were on the scene of a crash in Whitehall Township Monday night Road rage leads to double shooting in Whitehall TownshipWHITEHALL TOWNSHIP Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Police in the Lehigh Valley believe road rage may have led to a double shooting It happened on the 1100 block of Fullerton Avenue in Whitehall Township around 6 p.m When officers arrived they found two adults had been shot - Edward Tomcics lived his whole life on Water Street in Whitehall was fatally struck as he walked across the street after parking his car Wednesday in the 3200 block as they placed candles and built a memorial to the man they called “the Water Street mayor,” they also shouted and pleaded with motorists to slow down as cars whizzed along the 25 mph street at speeds much higher than that His wife Barbara Tomcics wept as she described Ed’s final moments She rushed outside after his granddaughters and neighbors heard the impact shortly before 7 p.m. He had been thrown several feet and was found on the side of the road The car that hit him came to a stop not far down the street “I was waiting for him to walk in the door,” Barbara Tomcics said Water Street is a narrow road along the Lehigh River in the Darktown section of Whitehall – so named because it was the last part of the area in the early 20th century to get electricity There are no sidewalks on either side and the homes are close to the street Neighbors say they have complained for years about speeders and sought help to improve safety He fashioned a cross with Ed’s name and a whiteboard sign that declared Slow down,” placed on either side of the memorial Those who knew him said Ed had a kind heart and a reputation as a jokester “Any time someone needed something – whether it was plumbing or whatever – they would ask him,” said Barbara “He would stop what he was doing and go help them Ed dropped out of school as an 11th grader at Whitehall High School and joined the service He worked 40 years as a forger at Phoenix Forging Co in Catasauqua and retired early to care for his ailing mother Ed left the house to pick up his granddaughters who had spent part of Christmas Day with other family The granddaughters live with the Tomcicses and had just come inside as Ed parked the car across the street Tomcics died of blunt force injuries and his death was ruled accidental according to a news release by Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio Whitehall Township police did not return a message Thursday seeking details on the crash; family and neighbors said police administered sobriety tests to the driver and eventually took him away in a patrol car “They were here late at night,” Barbara Tomcics said of investigators a resident made a large sign urging people to slow down for children’s sake It’s still on the side of a nearby building “That’s how long this has been going on,” Reigle said Neighbors plan to go to the Whitehall Township commissioners’ meeting on Monday Barbara Tomcics acknowledged the street’s safety has been an issue for years But what she really wants is her husband back “Now I wish I would have gotten them (the granddaughters) because I would’ve walked across the street faster,” she said through tears the investigation is ongoing by Whitehall Township police and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office Funeral services are set for Friday — North Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Tuesday reviewed updated plans for a 110-home subdivision on 102 acres along Rising Sun Road first introduced plans in 2023 for a subdivision at 1321-1323 Rising Sun Road on what is currently open farmland near the Lehigh River Township planners granted conditional use approval for the project last June In response to earlier comments by township officials the plan presented Tuesday removes several proposed driveways from Rising Sun Road and shifts them to the other side of the homes they serve Relocating the driveways is the most impactful of several late-stage tweaks to the design as Access Commercial Development prepares to seek land development approval from the township North Whitehall planners granted three waivers for township land development rules governing the layout of curved roads near intersections and the material used for underground storm sewer pipes a fourth requested waiver presented an obstacle Township rules require drainage and utility easements around the perimeter of every lot but the subdivision’s current plan only includes easements along the front and rear of most lots members of the planning commission gave the developers homework: create a plan that more closely aligns with the easement requirements “What I think I'm hearing here from the board is they want to see" the required easements “But if there needs to be adjustments because of a certain geographical issue or because of your design the board would be open to that waiver in those areas.” “we are going to see each other again,” planning commission member Al Geosits told representatives for the developer Fire crews from all over our area battled a major fire in Whitehall Township overnight "The first crews went in to the second floor "I tried to make it to the stairwell that's closest to me resident at Independence Square Apartments Michelle Mackowiak experienced the same thing the fireman put a ladder up and helped me down the ladder," Mackowiak said The fire chief says they did face some difficulties fighting the fire He says because there was so much smoke and heat involved They ended up finding it in a storage closet on the second floor The Red Cross is currently assisting 5 families They're working on finding out how many people in total have been displaced "I'm very pleased on the efforts from all the firefighters on the scene This is a developing story. Stay tuned to 69 News, or go to WFMZ.com Hundreds of people were forced out of their homes while firefighters fought smoke and flames This is the latest in a series of dramas impacting the treasurer's office - The sign on the front door makes it clear Whitehall Township says it has taken steps to address concerns regarding the tax office and supports township employees A very different message was posted on Aug 23 when visitors were told the tax office was closed "I have no employees to receive these bills," said Treasurer Tina Koren Koren told her that her employees were either on medical leave or called out sick She says the closure was the fourth since she took office last year Ahe showed us a stack of payments totaling more than $1 million and we're going to make sure she can get that job done without interference," said attorney Matthew Mobilio Koren hired Mobilio to investigate her tumultuous tenure One that Mobilio says could be political payback for running against Mayor Joseph Marx and pushback from those who didn't want her to make changes following a 2021 investigation when $80,000 went missing "There were numerous frivolous grievances filed against her all of which were deemed unfounded," said Mobilio We asked the mayor and commissioners to talk about the allegations it says the township will not talk about the situation publicly but that it got recommendations from an outside auditor on how to insure best practices The statement says only employees who have undergone background checks are permitted to accept payments so transferring employees or getting temporary workers is against the rules The statement also says the proper handling of township funds is a key priority and if Koren doesn't like the way her employees do their job she can appoint new ones Her attorney says this will likely end up in court The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners voted to give its township treasurer a raise as well as keep the position an elected one A new police chief will be appointed at Wednesday's South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners meeting - A new police chief will be appointed at Wednesday's South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners meeting Frank Lombardo will be appointed as the new Chief of Police for South Whitehall Township on Wednesday, according to board documents Lombardo is a graduate of the FBI National Academy holds a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Planning and Design from Rutgers University a Master of Administrative Science from Farleigh Dickinson University and a Doctor of Education in Human and Organizational Learning from George Washington University Lombardo was an officer with the South Brunswick Township Police Department from 1995 to 2024 and held various leadership positions Lombardo will be responsible for the organization and performance of the South Whitehall Township Police Department and its officers/employees Dorney served for 21 years with the Allentown Police Department A township commissioner tells 69 News that Frank Lombardo was appointed by a unanimous vote at a meeting Wednesday night — North Whitehall residents can expect a tax hike next year as the township government looks to cover shortfalls from inflation rising costs and new needs for their fire department A 0.45-of-a-mill fire tax and a 0.15-of-a-mill general property tax increase is proposed for the township in the 2025 municipal budget which was advertised Monday at the township Board of Supervisors meeting Municipal officials argue that current tax revenue only has about an 85% purchasing power of the tax levy of in 2011 when the last township property tax increase occurred Township Finance Director Seth O'Neill said the tax increase would take North Whitehall back to where it was in terms of ability to invest in the township that it had at the time of that last increase "We are not able to buy what we used to be able to buy with this [current] tax rate," O'Neill said Officials specifically cited an increase from the township's health insurance provider, debt service for the municipal offices renovation rising costs and the ending of American Rescue Plan Act funding the hiring of a finance director and zoning officer this is probably one of the hardest budgets we've worked on for a number of reasons," Township Manager Randy Cope said The total general property tax in 2025 would be 0.65 mills which with the fire tax and farmland preservation tax bringing the total property tax to 1.2 mills That's an increase of more than 100% from the prior 0.5 mill general property tax and 0.1 mil farmland preservation tax For a median-value household assessed at $236,000 that would mean a tax increase of about $140 per year O'Neill said the township's property tax levy is in line with or less than other similar townships around it The township also has a 1% earned income tax from which revenue is split between the Parkland School District and the township "I think we've under invested," planning commission member Brian Horwith said in public comment "We've come to the realization that if we don't bring ourselves up now we'll be in a deeper hole and a bigger pickle of not being able to support things." Supervisors also approved advertising an ordinance that would codify the street light assessment which currently sits at $45 a year for residential properties within 250 feet of a street light it is anticipated to increase township general fund revenue $250,000 and allow the hiring of a township planner and contribute a higher total to the township capital investment funds A general fund surplus of $280,000 is budgeted which O'Neill says would be devoted to the equipment fund for needed future fleet acquisitions The budget is set to be adopted at the supervisors' Nov The fire tax is anticipated to raise about $712,000 in its first year of implementation $83,000 of which will be dedicated to the emergency services capital fund in addition to $104,000 in Local Services Tax which township officials say is the existing funding source for public safety capital acquisitions Officials cited a Lehigh County mandate for communications system updates by fire departments Fire department officials at the meeting said the new tax is needed because the updates are a costly endeavor for them as the county transitions to a modern digital system Other municipalities such as Upper Milford Township also have had to wrestle with how to fund their fire departments as they encounter volunteerism declines and donation shortfalls Many municipalities decided to implement fire taxes of some form Neffs Fire Company chief Jim Steward said only about 1 in 4 houses currently donates to the local fire departments The new revenue also would assist in the planned hiring of a township fire inspector O'Neill said $900,000 in general fund reserves are being drawn for capital projects the cash balance of the fund would be reduced from $8,800,000 to $7,350,173 the township is seeking a grant to improve Neff's Valley Park and will have $450,000 available for farmland protection Other goals are to establish a new yard waste site begin designing a new fuel station and acquire a new snowplowing truck while seeking grants for other equipment purchases Leftover $512,202 American Rescue Plan Act funds were approved to be transferred to the general fund as the municipality was required to use all of the $1.7 million in coronavirus pandemic-recovery funding it was allocated by the end of this year This article has been updated to clarify the revenue raised from the new fire tax Authorities are investigating an incident in Lehigh County where a 46-year-old man from Palmerton was fatally shot in a Whitehall Township parking lot on a Saturday evening - Randy Henderson said he often skateboards near a MacArthur Road parking lot in Whitehall Township which is where investigators said a 46-year-old Palmerton man was fatally shot around 6 p.m "This is a place where you can bring your kids and usually be safe," said Henderson The coroner said the man died at the hospital Police had the parking lot taped off and could be seen walking around with flashlights It wasn't like this 30 years ago," said Henderson A broken window could be seen at Loco Hot Deals the business had said in part "There was a dispute in the parking lot Guns were shot at a vehicle in the parking lot but everything else is Ok." The business went on to say it was praying for the victim to be okay and to go home with his family The coroner said an autopsy will be done on Monday and the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office are investigating "It's like a sign of the times like it just happens more violent for whatever reason," said Henderson The coroner said the victim's identity will be released once the autopsy is completed There is no word at this time on any arrests The coroner reports that a 46-year-old Palmerton man was the victim of multiple gunshots The closures are for work around the Route 309 bridge over Broadway - A section of Broadway in South Whitehall Township Lehigh County will soon be closed for several weeks as part of a bridge replacement project The closures are for the Route 309 and Tilghman Street interchange reconstruction project Nighttime closures on Broadway between Parkway and Hausman roads were scheduled from March 1 to April 4 between 6 p.m this section of Broadway will be fully closed for approximately four weeks During the closures Broadway traffic will be detoured on Parkway Road During the project drivers can also expect lane restrictions on Tilghman Street between 40th Street and just west of Hausman Road Restrictions are anticipated between 9 a.m Drivers are advised to anticipate changing traffic patterns and allow for extra time traveling through the area The project includes the reconfiguration of the Route 309 at Tilghman Street interchange to improve safety and mobility It will include two bridge replacements - one at Route 309 over Tilghman Street and another at Route 309 over Broadway Street the rehabilitation of the Route 309 culvert over Little Cedar Creek Two new traffic signals will also be installed at the end of the reconfigured Route 309 ramps to Tilghman Street that will be coordinated with existing signals at the intersections of Hausman Road at Cetronia Road Initial work will mostly be utility line relocation work For safety and for utility continuity purposes multiple utility lines need to be relocated prior to the commencement of road and bridge construction work and work to install electrical conduit and foundations for traffic signals is anticipated to begin Other work planned this year includes interchange ramp work roadway work on Route 309 and Tilghman Street and constructing a cul-de-sac at Windsor Drive and Midland Road Route 309 in this area has an average daily traffic volume of 57,372 vehicles Tilghman Street in this area has an average daily traffic volume of 20,101 vehicles PA is the general contractor on the $86,475,455 project which is expected to be complete in March 2030 South Whitehall Township has a new chief of police Lombardo was an officer with the South Brunswick Township Police Department from 1995-2024 and held various leadership positions holds a Bachelor's of Science in environmental planning and design from Rutgers University — Whitehall Township's tax collector and treasurer is accusing the township administrator of obstructing her job and is threatening legal action Tina Koren has been subject to "a series of possible civil rights and other violations" and is seeking legal remedies "Since becoming the tax collector for Whitehall Township and running for Mayor Tina Koren has been faced with unprecedented obstruction in performing the duties that Whitehall residents elected her to handle," Mobilio said in a release Koren did not immediately respond to a request for comment after release of the statement Koren has been subject to "frivolous" and "unfounded" grievances filed against her a "rebellion" within the lower ranks of the tax office Mayor Joseph Marx (spelled "Marks" in the release) tried to have Koren arrested for recording a public meeting while he served as president of township commissioners Mobilio said that when Koren requested an internal investigation regarding the retaliation she was laughed at and ridiculed by the township human resources department A heated and close race ended in defeat for Koren in November 2023 Marx at the time said he refused to debate Koren, stating it was "because I don’t respect the woman." Mobilio also said Marx "took it upon himself to have letters printed on official Whitehall Township letterhead undated and apparently not approved by the township commissioners hung in the tax office attempting to publicly shame Mrs and suggest she somehow acted improperly." Marx also restricted Koren's physical access to all township offices other than the tax office restricted Koren is an elected official," Mobilio said in the release "She is in her position because the voters believed in and trusted her to responsibly and respectfully manage the office of the treasurer and tax collection "The sacred responsibilities of her office bestowed upon her by the voters and taxpayers of Whitehall Township is being infringed upon and being made nearly impossible to execute all thanks to a few select employees and elected officials of the township with personal vendettas against her." Mobilio stated that his office is investigating potential legal actions such as a possible federal civil rights lawsuit and other legal action on grounds of defamation injunctive relief and emotional distress claims and we are going to make sure she can get that job done without interference," the release concludes Township officials did not respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday Whitehall Township said in a statement on Facebook from Aug 27 that it cannot publicly comment on personnel matters regarding employees "It is the Township's position that confidential information regarding employees should not be shared or discussed in public allegations related to Tax Office employees the Township Administration and the Township Board of Commissioners were made on social media and to the press," the statement reads the Township has taken all appropriate steps to address concerns regarding the Tax Office and will continue to support Township employees and address all appropriately raised concerns." The statement said the Township Administration and Board of Commissioners has "a key priority" of "ensuring that all money paid to the Tax Office is handled carefully," adding that only employees subject to specialized background checks "are permitted to accept payments at the payment windows." "Additional dual controls are in place to ensure that all taxes and fees collected are properly accounted for These rules prevent the Township from simply reassigning employees to the Tax Office or using temporary staff if there are times when staffing is limited," the statement says It iterates that all staff working within the tax office "are township employees." "The Township Treasurer has the power under the Township Home Rule Charter to appoint such other employees as she determines are required to perform her job functions," the statement says "The Treasurer has not appointed any of her own employees to assist with duties that she believes are not being properly performed by Township employees." Reporter Phil Gianficaro contributed to this article.