North Whitehall Township Supervisors met on Aug. 6 to hear residents testify and voice their opinions on Lehigh County Authority's conditional use appeal to construct a wastewater treatment plant on a 5.1 acre lot sudivision of KidsPeace land along Jordan Road, Orefield.

The plant would initially handle 62,000 gallons of waste per day, with a capacity of 200,000 gallons per day.

KidsPeace, the Schnecksville Fire Company, Lehigh Carbon Community College and the proposed Walmart would use the new facility.

Before the hearing, the board accepted the resignation of Rich Benjamin from the Emergency Management Committee and appointed Nelson Fogel as director and Don Jacobs as assistant director.

Jeff Johnson, representing the Tri-Clover Fire Company, asked supervisors about pre-emption of the traffic light at the intersection of Kernsville Road and Route 309.

In the event fire trucks go through this intersection, firefighters could control the light and decrease response time.

Township Manager Jeff Bartlett said the township is trying to get pre-emption for four traffic lights in the community including that one.

If the state issues permits for these lights, the installation would have to be bid due to cost.

At the conclusion of regular business, the continuance was resumed with attorneys and Engineer John Spitko Jr. of plant designer Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, before the board.

Supervisor Steve Pany asked about odor, type of plant and the sewage flows. He asked if the sewage could go septic in the pump station?

Spitko responded the waste could go septic depending on the length of time it is in the pump station, the temperature and the strength of the wastewater.

He said that LCA was willing to install chemical additives at the pump station to alleviate the problem with odors.

He also said the head works will have a building around it.

Supervisor Mark Hills asked about odors at larger plants compared to smaller ones.

Spitko said the same processes are available for small plants that are available for large ones.

Attorney John Roberts, representing the citizens group, The Voice of the Jordan, asked when the LCA said it would put the additives in the pump station and enclose the head works.

Spitko replied he could not recall either of these times.

Jeanene Bauer, representing The Voice of the Jordan, asked Spitko again about odors.

He said there is no way to control odor at the aeration tanks as they are not covered. There is a security screen on the tanks but no odor control.

He described ways odor could possibly be controlled at the tanks.

After Spitko was excused from the presentation, the audience was given their chance to comment.

Earl Supplee had concerns about the Greenways Trail and the possible truck traffic on Rhueton Hill Road in addition to the odor problem.

He urged, if the use is approved, certain conditions be placed on the decision relating to the truck traffic.

He also recommended barriers be placed at the gate so that no trucks could enter.

Bauer suggested installing a berm along the road and planting trees so the wastewater treatment plant would not be visible.

Debra Nagy asked the board to be good stewards of the land and do the right thing by rejecting the plant.

As the adjournment time neared and some resident still wanted to speak, supervisors scheduled another meeting for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21.