September was National Preparedness Month and Lehigh County commissioners passed a resolution at their Sept. 26 meeting to honor the American Red Cross for its service to Lehigh County.

"Part of the Red Cross's mission is to help people prepare for emergencies," Osborne said. "On average, the American Red Cross of Greater Lehigh Valley responds to an emergency every three days, the majority of which are residential fires."

Chief Administrative Officer of the American Red Cross Northeast Pennsylvania Region Robert Duld received a certificate of appreciation from the board.

"I truly want to offer and extend my sincere thanks on behalf of all the people that are out there in the middle of the night responding to emergencies every two days," Duld said.

In other business, commissioners shut down a bill to create a Keystone Opportunity Zone in Allentown.

The bill would have given the owner of a large industrial property on S. 10th Street a 10-year tax exemption meant to lure development to the now-defunct property.

Proponents of the bill argued chances for development of the property were slim without the KOZ. Opponents cited multiple offers on the property as evidence to the contrary.

Commissioner Michael Schware led the charge against creating the KOZ.

"In general, I'm opposed on a fairness level to this sort of designation because I think they come across more as a favor to the politically connected then as an actual benefit to the community at large," Schware said. "The perception of cronyism is only worsened when a proposal like this comes forward with as little information as we've been given about it."

Though the sponsor of the bill, Commissioner Daniel McCarthy did not discuss the original impetus for the bill, it was made clear the current owner neither made an appearance before commissioners nor was any formal request made to have the KOZ granted.

Commissioner Chair Brad Osborne also voted against the bill.

"This process has raised several irritating if not substantial points which could cause a questioning mind to sour and reject this opportunity," Osborne said.

He also listed assets of the property that made it viable in the open market.

The final vote on the bill was two in favor, Commissioners Percy Dougherty and McCarthy, and six opposed.