Council honored John Eyer as Volunteer of the Year Award for 2011 at their July 15 meeting.

"This goes to a person who really is involved in our community and really dedicates their time and effort and even their finances," council member Nathan Brown said.

Eyer has served as the head coach of the Emmaus High School softball team since 2000, the year the team won the PIAA 3A state title. Eyer has also served as the chairman of the Emmaus Youth Association as well as a vice-chairman and marshal for the borough's Halloween parade.

"We like to remember people who do good things year in and year out," council member Mike Waddell said. "[Eyer's] touched the lives of so many individuals over the years and so positively and council felt that you're absolutely a prime candidate."

In other business, the owners of 38 S. 5th St., the site of the deadly March 17 fire, will have their refuse bill prorated until they pull their occupancy permit.

Emmaus Borough Council voted 7-0 in favor of the action at its July 15 meeting.

Council member Jeffrey Shubdza said owners Lorretta and Mike Boyko attended the June 24 Health, Sanitation and Conservation committee meeting to request reimbursement for their refuse bill.

"We discussed different ways to address the reimbursement and we came to the 2-0 vote that we would recommend to council for official action that we would prorate the amount based on the length of time the property was not occupied," Shubdza said.

Council member Brent Labenberg asked for the phrase "because of destruction of property" to be added to the original motion "so we don't have people saying 'there are no people living in my apartment rental now, can I get a rebate?'"

Shubdza amended his motion to include Labenberg's suggestion and it was passed unanimously by the board. The proration period will run from March 17 through the time that the occupancy permit is pulled.