North Whitehall supervisors have announced the township office will be closed Nov. 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving.

Laurys Station Firefighter Eric Minford addressed the board at its Nov. 5 meeting concerning the proposed purchase of a new fire vehicle to replace the mini-pumper.

The goal of the fire company is to replace a vehicle when it has reached 30 years of age and firefighters will apply for a federal grant for $350,000 to purchase the new vehicle.

If the grant is denied, they will try to obtain a $100,000 PEMA loan from the state and a $150,000 loan from the township, with the balance coming from fire company funds.

The fire company should know in March or April 2013 whether the grant was approved.

Minford said the fire company wanted the board to be aware of its efforts, so it will be included in the township's planning cycle.

In other matters, the pre-emption equipment bid was awarded to Higgins and Sons with a low bid of $31,921.

Weis Markets will contribute $7,000 toward the equipment at its site. The bid was one of three for installation at four locations.

Pre-emption equipment will place the traffic lights in the control of the fire companies when responding to an emergency.

The salt bid was awarded to American Rock Salt Company LLC at $56.68 per ton. This bid was for supplying eight townships with their salt needs for the upcoming winter.

Spring Knoll Estates' developer requested a reduction of the letter of credit for the subdivision.

The board agreed to lower the amount on hand with a balance to be kept in the fund for maintenance.

The developer wants the township to plow the snow and spread ice melt until the roads are turned over to them.

The township agreed to do this and will bill the developer at the standard rate.

Weis Markets Gas and Go letter of credit was also reduced.

The township will retain $10,000 for maintenance with the balance returned to the developer.

Leonard Nuss and Bruce Stettler of the township planning commission questioned why the compact car spaces were not marked as required by the ordinance.

They said if it is required in the SALDO, then the developer should attend to the matter.

Supervisor Steve Pany said he would look into the matter and maybe Weis should request a waiver.

Township Manager Jeff Bartlett gave his report on the budget.

In his opinion, the proposed budget for next year would show a slight excess.

The amount will be a decrease over the previous year's budget due to a decrease in expenditures.

On the other side, there will be an increase in medical and insurance costs and the elimination of the receipt of state police fines.

He recommended the replacement of the Park Valley Road bridge and the repair of the bridge on Golf Course Road, which was damaged in an auto accident.

Pany said Park Valley Road bridge was not that bad and only wants to replace the deck and the parapets.

Even though revenue is reduced, the township is in good shape financially.

Bartlett commended township residents as having a good reputation for paying their taxes.

The board then authorized publication of the budget for review prior to adoption.

Bartlett also noted the final draft of the Jordan Creek Greenway Corridor Agreement should be ready for the next meeting.

This is the proposed walking trail, which will hopefully extend continuously through many of the townships in the county. Pany had concerns about road crossings and wondered how this would be handled when the trail crosses Route 309 or the Pa. Turnpike.

Once the agreement is signed and the trail built, it will be the township's responsibility for maintenance.

The meeting was briefly turned over to Solicitor Lisa Young to conduct a public hearing on an ordinance regarding the relocation of Orchard Road, which runs through the Lehigh Carbon Community College campus in Schnecksville.

The old road will be vacated and turned over to LCCC. The township will obtain the new section.

This will move through traffic farther away from the campus.

Supervisors agreed to continue their meetings next year at 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.

Bartlett mentioned the township's yard waste facility.

He said the township does not pick up yard waste as some townships do.

Residents must deliver their leaves and branches to the facility within the designated hours.

He noted the facility is for the use of township residents only.

Supervisors also discussed the speed limit on Mauch Chunk Road.

The speed limit is 35 mph for the entire road except for one small section where it is 45 mph.

Township Secretary Brenda Norder was authorized to send a letter to PennDOT requesting the 45 mph speed limit be lowered to 35 mph to correspond with the remainder of the road.