Representatives of Buchart Horn Inc. came to the Jan. 22 meeting of the Lehigh Township supervisors to provide a presentation about the Master Concept plan which is in its final draft.

It is expected to cover current needs and provide a site plan to fit the needs of the township for many years to come, said W. Scott Loercher. People in each department were interviewed to determine what was needed. Public works was considered to have an immediate need but with space to grow, with administration and police coming second.

The buildings were planned with space sharing. New police quarters will meet the standards for accreditation, including privacy.

A generator large enough for everything will be included. Access to the site will be restricted with electronic gates.

Some stand-alone buildings will be demolished. Looking five to 15 years into the future, Loercher said, needs will go up.

Equipment at the public works area will be stored inside with wash areas. Road foreman Frank Zamadics said although they can get trucks and plows inside, they come in with ice and there is no way to clear it. Proper care in a temperature controlled area will make equipment last longer. Presently 28,900 square feet is needed and that will go up.

Police and administration would share a single building with room for detainees, secure storage and processing space in the police section.

Buchart representative Jim Hopkins said fire suppression will be part of the water system. The township has five wells, two of which have been abandoned.

Supervisor Darryl Snover asked where a new well could be drilled immediately because the township is having problems. Hopkins pointed to an area on the map away from proposed building areas.

The township needs 1,060 gallons per day. It has 22 employees without counting administration.

The township asked about cost. In a warehouse-style building it will cost $105 per square foot. For police areas it will cost $211 per square foot and for town-hall-style construction (administration) the cost would be $151 per square foot.

Combining demolition, construction and soft costs (which include furnishings), phase 1 will cost $6.3 million and the police and administration area will cost $5.3 million.

If they wait five years, Loercher said, it will cost about 7 percent more.

Supervisor Cindy Miller said it is totally outside the township budget and there must be aesthetic places to cut down on the costs.

It was suggested that the present administration property could be sold.

Supervisor Dell Grove asked if they had to triple the size at one jump.

Zamadics said if the exterior work is done the township could complete much of the interior work. He thought the entire layout is great.

Supervisor Sandy Hopkins said the immediate need is for a maintenance building.

Supervisor Keith Hantz said supervisors would have to sit down with a group to discuss the project.

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In other business the drainage at the Matt Moskho property at Cottonwood and Dogwood roads was again discussed. The problem was not caused by something the township did but rather by existing conditions.

Engineer Phil Malitsch went out to see if anything could be done to protect the road surface. He said at the intersection there is significant erosion. Anything the township did would also require some work from Moskho. He agreed that would be done.

Malitsch gave costs as $3,000, $7,000, $2,000 for various parts of the project plus $10,000 for paving. It is expected Zamadics could do much of the work.

Hantz said it is something that needs to be done because the road is cracking.

Snover said the township can't get involved with everyone's drainage problems, but Hantz said this is a township road. Work done by the township will be in the right of way. Zamadics will check it and give approximate costs.

The low bid for the Willow Road gabion project is $33,095 from Penn Quaker. FEMA money will pay for much or all of the cost.

If the township can come up with a project it can get a technology intern from Penn State for 10 weeks at $1,800.

Solicitor David Backenstoe said he will study the possibility of the township taking over the remainder of the Hills of Greenock.

Dennis Hock of the recreation commission said there is a big gully at the intersection of Long Lane and Maple Drive. Hantz said Maple is a state road. Zamadics will look at it.