Alburtis Borough Council President Steve Hill announced there will be no increase in taxes, water and sewer or garbage fees in Alburtis in 2013.

"The police department, secretary and maintenance have all been under budget this year. Everyone is really watching their spending," Hill said.

Hill did say, however, some resident's taxes might go up depending on their assessment from the county. The 2012 millage of 9.9 mills changed for 2013 to 3.08 mills but it generates the same amount of revenue. The county has changed the formula for determining millage value, but it works out to equal the same amount of revenue for the borough.

Council approved including a donation of $10,000 to the Lower Macungie Library in the budget. The budget was approved for publication in a daily paper for review by the general public and will be adopted at the Dec. 26 meeting.

Mayor Kathleen Palmer reported she received the check from the Emmaus Rotary Club for $1,000 for the hockey court.

Hill said the new police car should be here by the end of next week. Council is considering donating the old car, as is, to the fire department as they requested.

Maintenance reported most of the leaves around town have been cleaned up, all storm drains have been cleaned out for the year and some repairs must be made. Free inlets received from Allen Myers Construction Company have been put at the stockpile area at the reservoir. Maintenance will be working on cleaning out the reservoir throughout the year. The trees around Borough Hall have been trimmed and cleaned up.

Hill said the maintenance department needs a new mower. He was told the 24-year-old mower (bought in 1989) "is blowing oil." The old mower could be sold, stripped for parts or sold for scrap. Executive Secretary Sharon Trexler got two quotes, one from Deer Country Farm & Lawn for $5,519 and another from Canns-Bilco, in Alburtis, for $4,200.

"I would prefer to buy from Canns-Bilco because they are local," Councilperson Kathleen Raines said.

She was told Canns-Bilco proposed a smaller mower. Council decided the warranties should be checked into before a decision is made.

Council decided meetings for 2013 will remain the second and fourth Wednesday of the month with the exception of February, 2013 and December 2013. Council will meet Feb. 27, 2013 and Dec. 23, 2013.

An executive session was called 7:40 p.m. to discuss a legal matter and the meeting reconvened 8:10 p.m. By unanimous vote, council approved a motion authorizing Solicitor David Knerr to proceed with legal actions on having a sheriff sale at the property known as the Iron Horse in the Borough of Alburtis. Hill said this was decided by council because of liens the borough has against the property from past violations.

Councilperson Cathy Moyer was absent from the meeting.